Velvet with Floral Design

During the late Middle Ages, velvet was widely considered to be the most luxurious type of fabric available. Italy began producing plain woven velvet fabrics as early as the 13thcentury. The decorative fabric is made to resemble a U-shape; the middle section is divided into 5 layers, wherein the first layer is velvet in a Jacquard weave with a uniformly sized floral pattern. The patterns are vivid and varied, in which flower pistils vary in direction in a parallel arrangement of dots which connect to branches and vines, producing a heightened sense of rhythmic fluctuation, and a decorative floral border lines each side. The second layer is comprised of muslin (but only in the damaged area in the center, which is likely the result of a repair). The third and fourth layers are comprised of a thick linen cotton blend, and the fifth layer is made of plain muslin.