Lampas

The lampas technique could be used to create complex designs, including figural and floral motifs in a range of colors.

[1] The rapid adoption of the textile across Asia as well as Europe can be attributed to the fact that it was a sturdy yet flexible weave and could be made relatively quickly.

[2] Several examples of Safavid era textiles have survived and they demonstrate the ability of lampas to capture large figural scenes using a variety of colors, creating an effect similar to a painting.

The subject of the weaves in Safavid Iran often took inspiration from Persian poetry epics and the manuscript paintings commissioned by the Shahs.

[10] Its large size of more than nine meters in length and important spiritual context depicted through the weaving process of lampas shows that the technique was labor intensive and required an immense amount of skill.

[13] Lucca, Venice, Florence, Bologna, and Genoa are known to have been the principal silk weaving cities in Italy during the 14th and 15th centuries, although it is not known which was the main producer of lampas.

[15] Lampas was a very popular weave during the Rococo era of the Bourbon monarchy and can be seen in the decoration of the Petit Trianon at Versailles as well as in court clothing.