Fragment

During the Renaissance, monochromatic velvets became popular, especially those of a deep red color. While there are many sources of red dye, the most highly prized and costly was cochineal red, which was derived from insects native to the Americas and imported to Europe through Spain. Weavers varied the single tone of red by employing different weave structures and textures, such as contrasting cut-pile velvet (cut loops of surface yarn) designs with outlines of looped pile, a technique known as ciselé velvet. The fragments in this case show a variety of cut-pile designs including symmetrical candelabra on the left, abstracted vegetation in the center and a small-scale pattern on the right.