Salmon & White Silk Lutestring
Chinese, Indian, Persian, English & French “taffety” or taffeta were commonly advertised silks in the 18th and 19th centuries. They were available in a variety of colors and patterns, including changeable, “chines” or warp-printed, striped, checked, or patterned. They were woven with a plain-weave, and varied only in their width or number of silk yarns in the warp and weft. After the American Revolution, great quantities of silk came to the states directly from China, including taffetas, satins and lustrings, such as this Salmon & White Silk Lutestring . The Victoria & Albert holds a French Merchant's silk book of 1764 which shows a variety of silk patterns.
Silk was available to all social classes in varying qualities; for instance, those with less wealth might have purchased cheaper silks or found silks from the second-hand market.
This Salmon & White Silk Lutestring displays occasional light slubbing. This characteristic is found in a variety of 18thc silks we have examined.
- Salmon & White Silk Lutestring is very lightweight, and suitable for gowns, petticoats (plain and quilted,) pelisses, spencers, mantelets and trims, wrapping gowns, men's waistcoats, suits when properly interfaced, linings & accessories.
- 100% Silk, 43 inches wide.
