Hallstatt wools

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The fabrics from the salt mines are mainly woollen and some are of extraordinarily fine quality. These woollens were woven on warp-weighted looms that could produce not only a plain tabby but more complex weave constructions including various twills. The most popular is the even sided twill. Less common are pointed twill, herringbone twill or basket weave.

Interesting patterns were created with simple twills by alternating groups of S and Z-spun threads. The resulting weave gives the optical impression of a “pointed twill”: depending on the angle of the light falling on the fabric, some stripes appear darker than others. The leading edges of the fabric are often in a rep weave to achieve extra robustness. Rep is also applied in the manufacture of braids that can form part of grid weaves. The rep bands (similar to today’s costume ribbons) are sometimes executed in several colors. Evidently the people of the Hallstatt period prized colored ribbons as a facing for woven edges: this is evidenced by some fine examples of tablet weaving.

5 thoughts on “Hallstatt wools

  1. Stefan says:

    I think the image is from the Book “Prähistorische Textilkunst. Die Entwicklung der Textiltechnik und der Bekleidung in Zentraleuropa.” from “Karina Grömer”. She also has some Youtube Videos online and is a reasearcher at the Natural History Museum, Vienna for historic textiles. The book might be found online as PDF, i have it as second edition. English it can be found https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/32825 here – or more information about it.

    There is also a book “Tracing textile cultures of Italy and Greece in the early first millennium BC” from here as well. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349761146_Tracing_checked_cloth_in_prehistoric_Europe_in_the_1st_millennium_BC and https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/tracing-textile-cultures-of-italy-and-greece-in-the-early-first-millennium-bc/642F7FC36D2E140DA6ADFE9BFF663F1B

    Maybe this helps 🙂

  2. Robert says:

    I came on here to suggest this very fabric type. Hope this gets to the review phase and made, this is exactly what I’m looking to purchase.

    1. WoolSome says:

      Hi! I have good news! One of them will be available in our store this year 🙂

      1. sofie says:

        Hi! Can I ask which one will be available and when? looking to recreate a hallstatt peplos dress 🙂

        1. WoolSome says:

          Hi! We just made Textile 74 from Hallstatt, it will be available in end of october.

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