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Vertical loom

Type Object Region Eurasia Time c. -500–1800

An upright frame loom widely used across Eurasia, allowing weavers to sit while operating warp lifting and shuttle movement;…

Timeline

  1. c. -500–500Eastern Mediterranean coast · Eastern Mediterranean coastFrom the classical period to the early Byzantine era, vertical frame looms on the eastern Mediterranean coast were used for silk-wool mixed weaving, with weavers controlling heddle frame lifting by treadle or hand.
  2. 1081–1090Bianjing and Liangzhe weaving workshops · LiangzheFrom the Yuanfeng to Shaoxing era of the Northern Song, official damask and brocade workshops and private weavers in Liangzhe commonly used vertical looms to weave damask, gauze, silk, and satin; combined with pattern-tie jacquard techniques, products supplied the court and overseas trade.
  3. c. 800–1300Al-Andalus and Italy · Al-AndalusThe Islamic world improved the heddle and treadle mechanisms of the vertical loom, which spread to southern Europe via Mediterranean trade routes, laying the foundation for later European wide looms and jacquard techniques.

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