Not currently on display at the V&A

Dress Fabric

ca. 1740 - ca. 1760 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

An extra finishing technique has been used on this silk. Watering is a process by which irregular wavy lines are produced on the surface of a textile after weaving either by folding it, or winding it on to an engraved roller, and then subjecting it to heavy pressure. The textile must be woven with a pronounced rib, and as this is crushed in irregular directions the light is reflected as if from the moving surface of water, although no water is actually involved in the process. In combination with silver thread in this example the result is glittering.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Watered silvered tissue
Brief description
Panel of watered silvered tissue unpicked from a petticoat, made in Spitalfields, London, about 1740-1760
Physical description
Panel of watered silver tissue unpicked from a petticoat.
Dimensions
  • Length: 127cm
  • Width: 50.5cm
Credit line
Given by Richard Brander
Summary
An extra finishing technique has been used on this silk. Watering is a process by which irregular wavy lines are produced on the surface of a textile after weaving either by folding it, or winding it on to an engraved roller, and then subjecting it to heavy pressure. The textile must be woven with a pronounced rib, and as this is crushed in irregular directions the light is reflected as if from the moving surface of water, although no water is actually involved in the process. In combination with silver thread in this example the result is glittering.
Collection
Accession number
T.87-2003

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Record createdApril 29, 2004
Record URL
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