FireStryker Living History Forum : Woodblock printed textiles

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Topic: Woodblock printed textiles

Steven H
New Member
Member # 1555

posted 03-21-2007 06:30 PM

I've seen a couple of references to printed textiles in the 14th century, using woodblock printing. However, I can't find any more info than that.

What I'd like is any pictures depicting that and any info on the 'ink' that would be used.

Thanks.

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Boston Longsword Practice - Kunstbruder

You can reasonably assume I'm talking about life or death combat or battles, NOT duels or playing tag in the salle.

Registered: Mar 2007 | IP: Logged

gaukler
Member
Member # 30

posted 03-21-2007 07:53 PM

Directions are given in Thompson, D. V., Jr. (1933) The Craftsman’s Handbook ‘Il Libro dell’ Arte’ by Cennino d’A. Cennini, New Haven: Yale University Press. [Reprint of the English translation volume only of the above: Dover Publications, New York, 1960], but our copy has gone missing. It is online at http://www.noteaccess.com/Texts/Cennini/index.htm
The section on block printing is here: http://www.noteaccess.com/Texts/Cennini/13M.htm The ink is a mixture of vine black and varnish.
Some examples are to be found at http://middleages.ca/Parma/steyned/STEYNED.html .
mark

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mark@medievalwares.com
http://www.medievalwares.com
medieval metalwork and authentic antiquities

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gregory23b
Member
Member # 642

posted 03-28-2007 10:36 AM

I addition to the contemporary instructions there are extant examples, not many but they exist across a range of contexts, suggesting a wider application that at first thought of. Cenninni talks about faking woven materials for clothing, the others are as follows:

The Sion Textile is mid 14thc and a large narrative romance. It is in two collections, ie split in two. This is a wall hanging.

There is an altar cloth, 15thc again split across at least two collections.

The V and A has a 15thc possibly Flemish woodcut textile, coloured (as the previous two are) with paint. Purpose unknown save that it has a hunting theme.

There is strong conjecture that some small veronicas were printed onto linen.

Stencilling must also be included in the 'print'description because in essence it is a repetitive method. So you can have printed with painted and stencilled and gilded cloth.

As it happens I have a commission at present to produce a woodblock for some 16thc textile printing.

OT
Mark, you still up for the wound man btw?

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