Page 20 - Chiense TExtiles, MET MUSEUM Pub 1934

THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
(not always happy ones) as the result of the introduc-
tion from the West of aniline dyes.

EARLY WEAVES AND EMBROIDERY
STITCHES
A word of explanation is due the reader at this point. A
proper record of the weaves and embroidery stitches dis-
cussed hereafter should include a detailed technical de-
scription of each and, in addition, drawings to illustrate
those descriptions. Such a task is out of the question in
a volume of this type. It must be done by a scholar who
has the means and leisure to make a complete survey of
all the textiles at the sources mentioned and of as many
others as possible, in order to accomplish a first-hand
analysis of the weaves. A study of this sort would, fur-
thermore, permit the material to be collated, something
which has never yet been attempted, even on a small
scale. Until such a work has been achieved, we must be
content to accept the findings of diverse authorities ex-
cept in cases where we have been fortunate enough to
see the textiles themselves. Most of the weaves and em-
broidery stitches mentioned have Western counterparts,
however, which have been carefully analyzed and illus-
trated by capable authorities, and the untrained student
of textiles may use such reference books for explanation
of the technical terms found in this volume if he so de-
sires. We have here discussed at length only the weaves
least familiar to the West. In the section dealing with
examples in the Museum collection we have illustrated
ro