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Materials Glossary Details

Brocade

Mactaggart Art Collection Read more about this collection »

TypeMaterials Glossary; Weave Structures Common in Chinese Textiles

Term Brocade Alternate Term(s) supplementary weft patterning Type Materials Glossary; Weave Structures Common in Chinese Textiles Definition

Brocade describes a type of woven fabric that features a multi-coloured pattern created using a discontinuous supplementary weft structure. Brocade is easily identified by the long floats on the backside of the…

Brocade describes a type of woven fabric that features a multi-coloured pattern created using a discontinuous supplementary weft structure. Brocade is easily identified by the long floats on the backside of the fabric, which occur when the colourful weft yarns are not in use on the surface design. These floats make the fabric slightly thicker than other multi-coloured fabrics, such as tapestry. Brocade fabric can have a variety of ground fabrics, including twill, plain weave, leno, and satin. Brocade is woven on a complex loom (called a “drawloom”) that is operated by two weavers: one on the top of the loom (“drawboy”) and a second craftsperson operating the lower section.


Related Definitions:


Fiber: Natural (plant or animal) or synthetic material formed into a thread that is longer than it is wide.


Warp: lengthwise yarn that runs from the top to the bottom of the fabric. This yarn is typically held stationary during weaving.


Weft (or Fill or Filling Yarns): crosswise yarn that runs selvedge to selvedge, under and over the warp yarns in varying patterns to create different weave structures.


Yarn: A continuous length of interlocked fibers, which may or may not be twisted.

Plain Weave (or Tabby Weave): the most basic weave structure that consists of one warp and one weft thread intersecting at a right angle. The front and backside of the resulting fabric are the same.


Satin Weave: Four or more weft yarns intersecting with a warp yarn, or vice versa. The resulting floats, which are sections of the yarn that do not intersect, appear on the face of the fabric, producing a very glossy, smooth, and flat appearance.


Twill Weave: one weft thread passing over one or more warp threads and then under two or more warp threads creating diagonal ridges, which are the identifying feature of the resulting fabric.


Leno: A type of gauze fabric in which two or more warp yarns (up to four) are twisted around a weft yarn to produce a strong but fine, loose, and open fabric.

© 2022 University of Alberta
© 2022 University of Alberta

Citation

Page Citation for Brocade

Page Citation

"Materials Glossary Details - Brocade, Mactaggart Art Collection." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/8-272225/21-19733. Accessed 10 Oct. 2024.

Object Information

There are 268 objects associated with this Materials Glossary Term

2005.5.299 - Red Silk Brocade Hanging in the Hundred Boys Style

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typehanging Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.307 - Two Silk Tapestry Weave Panels from a Dragon Robe

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typepanel Artistunknown Date Madeca. 1900

2005.5.308 - Orange Silk Fragmentary Panel of a Yoke Section of a Robe

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typepanel Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.319 - Blue Silk Gauze Dragon Robe for a Man

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typerobe Artistunknown Date Madeca. 1900

2005.5.320 - Purple Brocade Silk Gauze Dragon Robe for a Man

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typerobe Artistunknown Date Made1900-1910

2005.5.325 - Maroon Silk Dragon Robe for a Man

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typerobe Artistunknown Date Made1900-1910

2005.5.326 - Maroon Silk Brocade Dragon Robe for a Man

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typerobe Artistunknown Date Made1900-1910

2005.5.338 - Green and Ochre Silk Brocade

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typeyardage Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.342 - Brown Silk Brocade Tibetan Chuba for a Man

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typerobe Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.343 - Embroidered Black Silk Gauze Formal Dragon Robe Skirt and Collar

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typeskirt and collar Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.348 - Red Brocaded Silk Gauze

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typeyardage Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.349 - Aqua Brocaded Silk Gauze

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typeyardage Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.354 - Silk Tapestry Weave Cushion Cover

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typecushion cover Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.360 - Red Silk Velvet Hanging

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typehanging Artistunknown Date Made1900-1920

2005.5.379 - Two Embroidered Silk Sleeve Bands

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typesleeve band Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.380 - Two Embroidered Yellow Silk Sleeve Bands

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typesleeve band Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.387 - Embroidered Cream Silk Circular Fan and Cover

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typefan Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.392 - Silk Brocade Robe and Collar

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typerobe and collar Artistunknown Date Madeca.1850-ca.1900

2005.5.395 - Seven Assorted Silk Fragments of Brocade, Embroidery, and Tapestry

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typefragment Artistunknown Date Made1662-1722

2005.5.396 - Brocade Silk Hanging

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typehanging Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.406 - Embroidered Blue Silk Gauze Court Dragon Robe for a Man

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typerobe Artistunknown Date Made1900-1910