Silk ~ the Goddess of Textiles

Copper leaf silkscreen motif on 100% pure white silk velvet. Pegasus motif seen on ancient fabric in the The Musée des Tissus et des Arts décoratifs in Lyon, France.

Legend says an empress enjoying tea in her garden discovered the first silk cocoon, 
unravelled its immense length (up to 1300 meters) wrapped her tiny threads together 
and the goddess of textiles came to life. 

Saying the word silk resonates in the realm of glamour and mystery.
A kind of celestial glamour.
Silk a pure strand of protein, stronger than steel,
stands on her own as the preeminent fabric. 
Her sensitive ability to cool when hot, to warm when cool,
to absorb colour like a mercurial countess, goes unrivalled. 

Olive blossom copper leaf silkscreen motif on pure botanically coloured 100% silk velvet.

Silk glows as charmeuse, adorns as habotai, embraces as velvet and shapes as taffeta. 
She comes in 12 silk solo variations and weaves beautifully with linen, cotton and hemp, 
gracing these fibers with her shining strength. ​

​
Silk became one of the premier products traded along the Silk Road. Due to its softness and beauty silk was in great demand in the ancient world. The Silk Road began at the ancient city of Chang'an (modern day Xian) and stretched over 4,000 miles
​ (6,437 kilometers) to the Mediterranean Sea.
It traversed deserts, high mountains and many other natural challenges.
The Silk Road took lengthy, costly routes transporting products by horse and camel; therefore traders chose smaller, lighter, and more expensive goods. Porcelain, gold, silver, ivory, salt, spices, and tea accompanied silk on these journeys.

​

Emerald silk ~ Eco-Colour Textile Conference in the stylish Atlantic Coast town of La Rochelle, France.

Interesting link

Here’s a list of the museums and places I’ve studied and sought out examples of her journey from ancient to modern. Silk genealogy reads like my ancestral mix ~ Italy, France, England, Scotland, Ireland, Greece, Persia & Portugal.

America ~ 
Seattle Museum of History & Industry
Seattle Art Museum
Seattle Asian Art Museum
San Francisco Legion of Honor
San Francisco De Young
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art ~ Antiques & Interiors Show
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
Los Angeles County Modern Art
​Otis College of Art & Design
Art Center College of Design
Arizona State University Art Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art ~ Manhattan


France ~ Paris, Lyon
Louvre
Musée des Arts Décoratifs ~ Paris
Musée d’Orsay
Musée du Parfum
Palais Galliera
Carnavalet​
Musée des Arts et Métiers
Musée des Tissus et des Arts décoratifs ~ Lyon


Italy ~ Como, Firenze, Venetia
Museo didattico della Seta di Como
Antonio Ratti Textile Foundation
Opificio delle Pietre Dure
Uffizi Gallery
Palazzo Pitti Costume Gallery
Museo Archeologico di Firenze ~ Egyptian
Museo del Tessuto di Prato
Palazzo Orfei ~ Fortuny
Museo di Palazzo Mocenigo
Ca’ Rezzonico
Fondazione Centro Ludovico Ragghianti

Greece ~ Athens, Crete

Along with enjoying numerous galleries, boutiques, artisanal workshops and lectures in the above cities and many more places like Pietrasanta, Lucca, Grasse,
​St. Remy de Provence, and Positano.

I'm well able to present an interesting, educational talk on
​ Silk Archeology and Botanical Colour for your organization.

Juliet's Portofino Italian Marble Stone Silk with delicate white gauze silkscreened with a copper leaf French Garden Parterre motif.