Chinese, India, Persian, English & French "sattins" or "satten" is woven with a very fine filament warp yarn which floated across the surface of the fabric while the coarser weft yarn was buried. Dull on the back side, the floating yarns created a shiny and lustrous face which was much admired. It was found in advertisements and is often found in extant clothing as well as portraiture. The V & A holds A
French Silk Merchants book from 1763. In it are a variety of silks: checks, figures, brocades, damasks as well as satins.
