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Materials Glossary Details

Damask

Mactaggart Art Collection Read more about this collection »

TypeMaterials Glossary; Weave Structures Common in Chinese Textiles

Term Damask Type Materials Glossary; Weave Structures Common in Chinese Textiles Definition

Damask: Patterned fabric that is reversible, with contrasting sections of lustrous and matte designs. Satin weave is paired with one of the fundamental weave structures - plain, satin, or twill weave - to create the…

Damask: Patterned fabric that is reversible, with contrasting sections of lustrous and matte designs. Satin weave is paired with one of the fundamental weave structures - plain, satin, or twill weave - to create the motifs. A Jacquard loom is used to create this fabric, which has design motifs woven into the ground.


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.

Citation

Page Citation for Damask

Page Citation

"Materials Glossary Details - Damask, Mactaggart Art Collection." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/8-272226/21-19470. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Object Information

There are 105 objects associated with this Materials Glossary Term

2005.5.10 - Imperial Yellow Silk Damask Informal Robe for an Empress

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typerobe Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.20 - Tiger Shaped Blue Silk Bib for a Child

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typebib Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.27 - Length of Floral Yellow Silk Brocade

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typepanel Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.59 - Pair of Embroidered Silk Sleeve Bands Mounted as a Panel

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typepanel Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.64 - Pair of Embroidered Silk Sleeve Bands Mounted as a Panel

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typepanel Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.77 - Blue Damask Silk Vest for a Woman

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typevest Artistunknown Date Madeca. 1900

2005.5.99 - Two Lengths of Silk Brocade Seamed Together

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typepanel Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.105 - Silk Brocade Tibetan Chuba

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typerobe Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.107 - Blue Silk Brocade Tibetan Chuba

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typerobe Artistunknown Date Made1736-1750

2005.5.112 - Two Blue Silk Tapestry Weave Fragments from the Skirt of a Formal Court Robe

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typepanel Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.113 - Orange and Green Silk Brocade Robe for a Buddhist Priest

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typerobe Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.121 - Red Silk Brocade Hanging Woven in the Style of a Collar from a Formal Court Robe

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typehanging Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.127 - Silk Tapestry Weave Hanging Woven with Flowers

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typehanging Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.131 - Embroidered Black Satin Hanging Decorated with Variations of the Shou Character

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typehanging Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.132 - Silk Brocade Dancer's Robe

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typerobe Artistunknown Date Made1662-1722

2005.5.139 - Embroidered Red Silk Skirt for a Woman

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typeskirt Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.149 - Embroidered Cream Silk Damask Skirt for a Woman

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typeskirt Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.152 - Embroidered Leggings for a Woman

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typeleggings Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.153 - Orange Silk Leggings for a Woman

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typeleggings Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.163 - Embroidered Pink Silk Jacket

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typejacket Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.164 - Blue Silk Damask Leggings for a Girl

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typeleggings Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown