Silk, a strong yet soft fiber produced by silkworms and harvested to make fabric, was the painting support of choice long before canvas or paper existed. Originating in China during the Neolithic period, silk painting and embroidery were markers of finery for the fashions of ancient imperial courts and the silk handscroll became a predominant format of Chinese painting. Spread throughout Asia and Europe by the Silk Road and then the Crusades, the thread is beloved worldwide for its fine and lustrous qualities. The French began a tradition of silk scarf-making in the Massif Central region; Thierry Hermes designing the …
Silk, a strong yet soft fiber produced by silkworms and harvested to make fabric, was the painting support of choice long before canvas or paper existed. Originating in China during the Neolithic period, silk painting and embroidery were markers of finery for the fashions of ancient imperial courts and the silk handscroll became a predominant format of Chinese painting. Spread throughout Asia and Europe by the Silk Road and then the Crusades, the thread is beloved worldwide for its fine and lustrous qualities. The French began a tradition of silk scarf-making in the Massif Central region; Thierry Hermes designing the first luxury silk scarf in 1937. Today, the functional and decorative medium is still popular for designers and contemporary artists alike. Massif Central, for example, has worked with artists such as Julia Dault, Joshua Abelow, David Shrigley, and Jonas Wood to create limited editions silk scarves that feature their original designs, blurring the lines between fashion and contemporary art-making.