Lace-Patterned Silk

In the early 18th century, French silks exclusively consisted of large patterns and could easily be more than one meter high. Different patterns had varying degrees of beauty, but all tended to command a magnificent and dignified presence. In this piece, the flower is 60.2 cm high and features a dual color warp (with a 1:1 ratio of red to beige). Beige, white, and green wefts are seen throughout while other colors use a swivel weave technique. Overall, the fabric has a red appearance; the main flower is a light beige hue, while the secondary flowers are smaller and seem to skip from one color to another, effectively conveying a gorgeous and dignified effect.