Silk, the Thread that Tied the World
Published on 3. November 2021
Book
Hardback
192 pages
978-1-5267-8092-8 (ISBN)
Description
Over a thousand years ago the Chinese discovered that the slender filaments that formed the cocoon of the silk moth, could be woven into beautiful shimmering fabrics.
For centuries they were able to keep the process a secret, but eventually started to trade the valuable cloth with the west, along the silk road.
Silk was a luxury item that bestowed prestige, so it was inevitable that the wealthy wanted their silks to be as elaborate as possible, beautiful designs were produced in the Islamic world and gradually a European industry developed.
In the 19th century mechanisation of the time consuming hand weaving process, had resulted in products being produced using the Jacquard loom, which used punched cards to create a pattern.
Silk remains the most beautiful woven material in the world, moving from its origins in ancient China to help transform the whole world.
For centuries they were able to keep the process a secret, but eventually started to trade the valuable cloth with the west, along the silk road.
Silk was a luxury item that bestowed prestige, so it was inevitable that the wealthy wanted their silks to be as elaborate as possible, beautiful designs were produced in the Islamic world and gradually a European industry developed.
In the 19th century mechanisation of the time consuming hand weaving process, had resulted in products being produced using the Jacquard loom, which used punched cards to create a pattern.
Silk remains the most beautiful woven material in the world, moving from its origins in ancient China to help transform the whole world.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Barnsley
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Pen & Sword Books Ltd
Illustrations
70 colour & black and white illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 253 mm
Width: 180 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
772 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5267-8092-8 (9781526780928)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Anthony Burton
Silk, the Thread that Tied the World
E-Book
04/2023
Pen & Sword History
€18.18
Available for download
Person
Anthony Burton is a professional author, who has been writing about the history of technology, including the textile industries for the past forty years.
He wrote and presented the B B C-T V series The Rise of King Cotton and also wrote the accompanying book.
Recently he has been the advisor to Discovery Channels programmes Industrial Revolutions and Industrial Revolutions Europe, which included visiting silk mills and museums in Britain and Lyon in France.
He is a founder member and former chair of the Stroud Water Textile Trust, that preserves and demonstrates machinery of the West of England woollen industry.
He wrote and presented the B B C-T V series The Rise of King Cotton and also wrote the accompanying book.
Recently he has been the advisor to Discovery Channels programmes Industrial Revolutions and Industrial Revolutions Europe, which included visiting silk mills and museums in Britain and Lyon in France.
He is a founder member and former chair of the Stroud Water Textile Trust, that preserves and demonstrates machinery of the West of England woollen industry.