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PAINTING MATERIALS

The first step in converting fibres into cloth is, of course, the removal of inter-
cellular matter (see also Linen), leaving relatively pure fibres. These are carded,
combed, drawn out and spun to the correct size. After spinning, single ends are
put together, in such number as will make the size of thread required, and are
twisted together in a direction opposite from that of the spinning. The reversal
of direction keeps the twist from kinking. When wound, the twists are ready for
weaving.

FIGURE i. Simple weaves of fabric are shown in the drawings taken from figures I, 2,
and 3 in *A Classification of Hand-Loom Fabrics/ The Pennsylvania Museum Bulletin
(Philadelphia), XX (November 1924), page 27, by Nancy Andrews Reath. At the left
is a simple cloth, each warp thread (vertical) passing under one and over one weft
thread; in the center is a simple cord.in which the warp threads (vertical) are much
smaller than the weft threads; at the right is a simple twill in which a warp thread
passes under one and over three of the weft threads.
Hand-weaving is a simple and familiar process. One set of threads, the warp, is
strung parallel on a frame and another set, the weft, is carried, by a shuttle, in and
out among the warp threads to make the fabric. The different ways in which the
two intersect are differences in weave. According to the descriptions of these
different ways, as given by Nancy Andrews Reath (pp. 8 ff.), those that usually
appear in painting supports can be defined as follows: (i) simple cloth, in which
warp threads and weft threads pass over and under each other alternately
(ribbed cloth or cord, in which one set of threads is heavier than the other, seems
to have had no appreciable use in painting); (a) simple twill, in which regularly
recurrent warp threads pass in echelon over and under the weft threads two or
more at a time, producing diagonal ribs or stepped patterns.
The history of fabrics as painting supports (see also Linen and Cotton) can
be traced back at least as far as the XII dynasty (2000-1788) in Egypt (a small
painted fragment, linen, of this time is in the Royal Ontario Museum of Archae-