What is Damask?
[[File:ItalianSilkDamask.jpg|thumb|320px|right|Italian silk damask]] '''Damask''' is a [[weaving]] pattern that is usually used with [[silk]] or [[wool]]. It is a poular classical pattern. It is made with a special technique: the original Damask was made in the [[Ottoman Empire]], [[Syria]], [[Iran]] and [[Jordan]]. ==History== Damask was first made using the five original weaving methods during the [[Middle Ages]]. It was common in the [[Byzantine Empire]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnch.org/cnchnet/winter-2011/damask-and-drawlooms/|title=A Short History of Damask and Drawlooms|publisher=}}</ref> and in [[Islamic]] areas. Its name comes from the city of [[Damascus]], where the pattern and the [[manufacturing]] technique were invented.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ww1.funmozar.com/|title=funmozar.com - Informationen zum Thema funmozar.|website=ww1.funmozar.com}}</ref> Damask lost popularity after the ninth century, except in [[Andalusia]]. It was revived by European weaving manufacturers, who got interested in oriental patterns and models. They made it on weaving looms from the 14th century onwards.<ref>Monnas, Lisa. 2008. ''Merchants, princes and painters: silk fabrics in Italian and Northern paintings 1300-1550''. London and New Haven: Yale University Press.</ref><ref>Jenkins, David ed. 2003. ''The Cambridge history of western textiles''. Cambridge University Press. {{ISBN|0-521-34107-8}}</ref> == Modern uses == Damask is a pattern used today on computerized looms.<ref>http://textileconference.rmutp.ac.th/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/009-Digital-Technologies-in-Textile-Art.pdf</ref> Even if the original pattern was a colored one, the modern Damask is usually monochromatic. It is woven in [[silk]], [[linen]] and even [[synthetic fabric|synthetic]] materials. The patterns can represent plants, flowers and fruits, but also other classical Arabian designs. The unique characteristic of the pattern is that the light reflects differently, when watched from different angles. ==References== {{Reflist}} ==Other websi