Gold & Gray Striped Silk Taffeta
Chinese, Indian, Persian, English & French “taffety” or taffeta, such as this Gold & Gray Striped Silk Taffeta, were commonly advertised in the 18th and 19th centuries. They were available in a variety of colors and patterns, including changeable, “chines” or warp printed, striped, checked, or patterned. They were woven with a plain weave, and varied 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. Simple patterns could be woven, such as stripes or checks. The Victoria & Albert holds a French Merchant's silk book of 1764 which shows a variety of patterns.
Stripes in a variety of widths and complexity can be found in surviving garments of men, women & children. 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.
