Lampas is a type of luxury fabric with a background weft (a "ground weave") typically in taffeta with supplementary wefts (the "pattern wefts") laid on top and forming a design, sometimes also with a "brocading weft". Lampas is typically woven in silk, and often has gold and silver thread enrichment.

Silk lampas woven by Scalamandré Silks in 1995 for the White House Blue Room. The pattern is based on a c. 1816 French design.

History

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Lampas weaves were developed around 1000 CE. Beginning late in the 17th century western lampas production began centered in Lyon, France, where an industry of providing for French and other European courts became centered.

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References

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  • Abbott, James A. A Frenchman in Camelot: The Decoration of the Kennedy White House by Stéphane Boudin. Boscobel Restoration Inc.: 1995. ISBN 0-9646659-0-5.
  • Colenman, Brian and Dan Mayers. Scalamandre: Luxurious Home Interiors. Gibbs Smith: 2004. ISBN 978-1-58685-408-9.
  • Jenkins, David. The Cambridge History of Western Textiles. Cambridge University Press: 2003. ISBN 978-0-521-34107-3.