The Oriental Collection - Catalog - Page 13
PURE SILK
FROM COCOONS to MAGNIFICENT SILK RUGS
Silk is used in Persian rugs because of its natural ability
filament end and unwinding, or reeling, the filaments from
to highlight the elaborate details in the intricate designs.
several cocoons at the same time, sometimes with a slight
The shiny, mirrorlike finish of silk reflects the light, giving
twist, forming a single strand. Several silk strands, each too
the rug vivid colours and a level of depth that is unlike any
thin for most uses, are twisted together to make a thicker,
other material. In the highest quality rugs, silk is used for
stronger yarn in the process called throwing. This process
the entire pile.
produces different types of yarns according to the amount
and direction of the twist imparted.
Silk comes from the cocoons of the silkworm caterpillar.
It builds its cocoon by producing and surrounding itself
Spun silk is made from short lengths obtained from dam-
with a long, continuous fibre, or filament. Liquid secretions
aged cocoons or broken off during processing, twisted
from two large glands within the insect emerge from the
together to make yarn. The thickness of silk filament yarn
spinneret, a single exit tube in the head, hardening upon
is expressed in terms of denier, the number of grams of
exposure to air and forming twin filaments composed of
weight per 9,000 metres (9,846 yards) of length. Silk is
fibroin, a protein material.
sometimes treated with a finishing substance in a process
called weighting. Here minerals are added, such as metallic
Silk is a continuous filament. Each cocoon has a usable
salts, to increase weight, add density, and improve draping
length of about 600 to 900 metres (2,000 to 3,000 feet). It is
quality. Due to its fragility, 100% silk rugs are not recom-
freed by softening the binding sericin and then locating the
mended for high traffic areas.
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