Rust & Gold Checked Silk Taffeta
Chinese, India, Persian, English & French “taffety” or taffeta, such as this Rust & Gold Checked Silk Taffeta, were commonly advertised in the 18th and 19th centuries. Woven plain, they were made in a variety of colors, some changeable, some “chine” or warp printed, some with stripes, checks and patterns. All were woven in a like-fashion, varying only in their width or number of silk yarns in the warp and weft. After the American Revolution, great quantities of silk came to the states directly from China, including taffetas, satins and lustrings. Silk was available to all social classes in varying qualities; those with less wealth could purchase cheaper silks, or find silks from the secondhand market. Stripes and checks (including patterns that you might call a plaid today), such as this Rust & Gold Checked Silk Taffeta, were among the many types of patterns woven.
The Victoria & Albert holds a French Merchant's silk book of 1764 with a variety of patterns. We do not have documentation for a check this large in our 18th century research, so we feel this silk would be best suited to the 1840's onward.
