6 Stunning Examples of SIlkwork

Silk was traded westwards from China, along a trade route that became known as The Silk Road. In central Asia and Europe it was reserved for the most important uses, such as this coronation mantle, created some time around 1100CE, and owned by the Norman king Roger II of Sicily.

This fascinating piece of fabric combines Chinese silk, Persian-style imagery of palm trees, camels, and lions, and Kufic Arabic script along its lower edge. This mantle shows how valuable silk tied together cultures in trade and fashion.

The European taste for silk grew in the 18th century, following increased contact with China. A growing appreciation for Asian aesthetics led to the creation of gowns such as this, made for Madame Oberkampf when she had an audience with Queen Marie Antoinette in 1775.

This dress demonstrates a variety of different threads including chenille, silk floss and twisted yarn. It shows of the outstanding skill and creativity of the Lyonnaise silk weavers - famous across Europe - who made it.

Not all silks were made for royalty. This log cabin quilt was made around 1850 by Marie Wagemann Pechmann, a 24 year old German immigrant to the United States.

Quilting is a technique that makes the most of small pieces of fabric. Here, the precious silk has been cut into strips and applied to make a dazzling design of varying colours. This is a simple piece of folk art that connects an immigrant's home to the wider world.