Damask

The first silk damasks consisting of botanical and animal patterns were produced in China as early as 300 B.C. They were traded along the Silk Road, which stretched from the Far East to the Mediterranean, taking the name from Damascus, one of the cities merchant caravans passed through en route to Europe. Damasks were popular in the Victorian era featuring floral and geometric patterns intricately woven together. The designs shown here are taken from that era. As you can see, even though the colours have been restored, the worn nature has been preserved to show the historical character of the original object.