Damask History
Although there are numerous and elaborate sources of Damask history easily accessible online, it’s important for us to provide a high-level background on the Damask Joy site, to preserve and honor this fascinating age-old art.
Historically, Damask refers to a weaving technique that goes as far back as the Byzantine era, named after the city of Damascus in the middle east. In that period, Damascus was a major trading city on the silk road with access to the world’s richest textiles and artisans. Some say the Chinese may have produced Damasks as early as the Tang Dynasty on specially developed looms capable of producing complex patterns. Damasks seem to have faded after the 9th century but were revived in the 13th in various places in the world.
Damasks began to appear in Western Europe in the mid-14th century and were then typically a glossy pattern woven in a single color on a duller background. More colorful variations followed suit and added gold and other metallic threads and weaving techniques. Medieval Damasks were woven in silk, wool, or linen. The modern Damask was made possible with the invention of the Jacquard loom in the 19th century, which made Damask production faster and lowered its cost. Today Damask appears mainly in table lines and furnishing textiles and is revered in the fashion industry for its versatility and high-quality finish.
Damask is an ongoing source of fascination for us and a subject we continue to explore as we move forward. Please feel free to reach out to us for any additional Damask-related information, resources, and communities.