Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-05-29

RIBBON WEAvING.-The art of weaving
ribbons is of great antiquity, and was
known to both the Hindoos and the Pers-
ians thousands of years ago. The first
ribbons are supposed to have been small
fillets to bind up the hair or tie about the
waist In process of time the fllet was
enlarged, and the richest and most costly
ribbons are now made of silk or velvet,
while the web corresponds to the various
purposes for which articles of this descrip-
tion are used.
Ribbons are OF various kinds, and prop
erly embrace scarfs, fillets, sashes, couch
trimmings, book-marks and braids. The
best English ribbons are made at Coventry,
and the trade has grown to be one of great
Importance Since the invention of the
jacquard loom, the business of ribbon
weaving has made rapid strides in France,
and figured and raised work are perfect
marTes of the textile art. The seat of the
trade in France Is at Lyons and Paris.
Swiss manufacturers, however, Of late years
have been formed in the production Of
silks and ribbons that have almost sup
planted French goods in the home market.
One reason for this is the taste they have
displayed in their patterns and the exquis-
ite fneness Of the material composing the
fabrics.
The most gorgeous ribbons are those
cIassed under the name Of sashes and scarfs.
The latter are of Hindoo origin, and are the
most exquisitely beautiful of all the orna-
mental fabrics of India They are called
by the natives - Duputtas, . and the most
costly are made at Benares. \ correspon-
dent of the Edinburgh RecielC, in de-
scription of the textile production of the
East, writes as follows:
- The scarf Is perhaps the most beautiful
of all the ornamental fabrics of India, and
it is quite impossible to describe the effects
of the gold and silver threads of the most
delicate and ductile description imaginable,
woven in broad ricl borders, with pro-
fusion Of gold and silver flowers. Neither
can l describe the elegance and intricacy of
the arabesque patterns of the ribbon bor-
ders or broad stripes. All these fabrics are
of the most delicate and delightful colors;
the creamy white and shades of pink, yell
low, green, mauve, violet, and blue are
clear, yet subdued, and always accord with
the mental thread and the style of ornamen-
tation, whether in gold or silver. Many
scarfs are of more decided colors-black,
scarlet, crimson, chocolate, dark green, and
madder but whatever the color may be,
the ornamentation is chaste and suitable.
Inferior scarfs are equally brilliant in col
or and are fadeless to the last rag"
Embossed ribbons, of the French pattern
are stamped with hot plates Of steel, each
piece having a portion Of the pattern en-
grayed upon its surface The best ribbons
made in Europe are manufactured from
Italian organzine silk: inferior sorts are
of China or India organzine silk. A fancy
ribbon called Chine, is considered very
beautiful on account of its figures, which
are first painted on the warp after it is pre-
pared for the LOOM and subsequently WOW
en- in the shuttle. The wavy or watered
appearance OF ribbons IS produced by
means of heated cylinders.
Ribbon weaving has been q very promi
nent industry in this country for many
years The largest manufacturers are at
Passaic, New Jersey, and in this city. In
regard to material and finish, domestic
ribbons compare favorably with the best
imported.