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The town of Spitalfields emerged in the early 18th
century as the center of the English silk weaving industry.
This beautiful example of pale yellow taffeta, brocaded with
polychrome silk and metallic thread, illustrates the masterful
textiles produced there. Trailing meanders of stylized flowers
are often found in English silks of this period; the vertical
arrangement of rows of metallic silver leaves is more unusual.
Woven as a dress silk, its sophistication and refinement would
have been evident when fashioned into a dress and viewed in
motion.
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