The record-union., 1891-06-27
EVOLUTION OF FABRICS.
Stnns That Wrapped the Pharoahs
Now Worn by Arabs.

Now Worn by Arabs.
The land that first offers to our notice
any important textile fabrics is Egypt.
Stufts have come down 10 us from the
ages Of the PharoGhS that are actually
worn by the Arabs OF the present day, the
WrappingS Of mummies. The material
Of which these are composed is in every
instance linen. The use of WOO! Tor
wearing apparel was forbidden in ancient
Egypt, linen only being considered neat
and Clean. The specimens in the Berlin
Museum show that this linen attained a
high degree of fineness, and even of
transparency. The means employed in
the designing Of them was sort Of net
work with glass beads, which were partly
round and partly obiong.
Wool of various colors was also woven
according to the representations on the
monuments, btIt the stutfS produced were
not used for clothes, but for furniture and
other purposes. Chairs were upholstered
in check patterns. There are also extant
large number Of patterns in Egyptian
wall paintings. These were originally
weavers' patterns-the patterns OF the
loom pasted on to the walls.
In later times, especially in the period
of the Ptolemies and Alexander the
Great, very valuable articles We're pro-
duced in this department.. Nothing has
been preserved, but the reference in an
ttGiC IIIGLttlli4C variant Us III SttylilR ID3G
they were products of embroidery and
half embroidery.
The rich finds in Upper Egypt belong
TO the late Egyptian period, mainly to
the period from the fourth to the seventh
century 4. D., at the time the corpses OF
the rich were dressed in the robes which
they had worn during life. and as much
as possible was put into the grave with
them. Much of this burial stuff has
come down to our day in good state.ef
preservation. In these fabrics we find
but very faint echoes OF the old represent
ations of the pyramid period-for in
stance, the lotus Hover, etc. Greek rule
and Roman rule had passed over Egypt,
but the culture had remained Greek. and
its chief center was Alexandria In the
seventh century Greek culture ceases;
Islam presses III, also the Copts, who
leave traces of their culture in the Sas-
sanid9, etc.
The finds referred to have great tech
nical interest. What was possible there
must have been possible in other places.
Another question, "WaS more possible ?u
have no definite proofs which warrant an
affirmative. Much must undoubtedly be
regarded as provincial which is yet of
considerable importance. Particularly
interesting in q technical aspect are linen
garments, with designs in wool and pro-
NluGu Will DOTuSTS. lne1t trimming
goes above the sleeve at the opening of
the neck, in the lower part not quite
round, and rises up on two stripes; on the
shoulder two round pieces are attached.
Another kind is as follows: The sleeves,
the lower part, the breast and shoulder
pieces trimmed; in the center where the
girdle went round, no garment.
The production of these borders was
attained with considerable technical diff
Guilty, and it is interesting to see how it
was overcome. The material is first
woven through, then designed, and the
border part unwoven on this portion the
wrap threads therefore, continue to stand
without the shoot going through them.
The pattern is wrought on these threads.
which are not bound by shoots, but by
process which is really embroidery, as
these threads can not be penetrated with
a shuttle, but only with the needle.
We have, also, whole series of the
fabrics woven with maps. We have,
further, the technical popularity that the
coarse woolen threads are inserted with
the needle; in short, we have a whole
series of interesting details, and the de-
signing, which is weighty and important,
reminding us in part of Mosaic patterns.
They consist partly of Roman and Greek