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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/8-272226/21-19712. Accessed 17 Jun. 2024.

Object Information

There are 105 objects associated with this Materials Glossary Term

2005.5.367 - Green Silk Damask Informal Robe for a Woman

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typerobe Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.371 - Silk Tapestry Weave Collar from a Court Robe

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typecollar Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.373 - Black Silk Damask Front Opening Robe

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typerobe Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.374 - Embroidered Magenta Silk Damask Jacket for a Woman

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typejacket Artistunknown Date Madeca. 1900

2005.5.376 - Purple Silk Jacket for a Woman

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typejacket Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.377 - Green Silk Damask Informal Winter Robe for a Woman

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typerobe Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.383 - Two Embroidered Blue Silk Sleeve Bands

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typesleeve band Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.415 - Yellow Silk Tobacco Pouch

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typetobacco pouch Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.454 - Green Silk Damask Kimono and Sash for a Nobleman

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typekimono and sash Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.460 - Pink Silk Damask Jacket

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typejacket Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.463 - Embroidered Red Silk Panel

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typepanel Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.465 - Maroon Silk Vest for a Man

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typevest Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.466 - Black Silk Gauze Jacket

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typejacket Artistunknown Date Madeca. 1930

2005.5.470 - Red Silk Brocade Chair Cover

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typechair cover Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.479 - Blue Silk Damask Skirt for a Woman

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typeskirt Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.487 - Embroidered Cream Silk Cushion Cover

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typecushion cover Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.490 - Silk Cut Velvet Hanging

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typehanging Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.494 - White Silk Damask Yardage

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typeyardage Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.495 - Silk Brocade Yardage

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typeyardage Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.503 - Two Embroidered Blue Silk Fragmentary Panels

Mactaggart Art Collection

Object Typepanel Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown

2005.5.505 - Embroidered Silk Sleeve Bands

Mactaggart Art Collection

Artistunknown Date Madedate unknown