Falding

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Falding was a rough-napped cloth or frieze that was made in Ireland during the 14th century. It was a colored woolen cloth, variably made with pile or cut pile. [1] There is conflicting information about falding's texture. Some sources describe it as a soft cloth, while others describe it as coarse. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Coarse wool was used to produce Falding. [5] It is probable that falding was also made in Northern Europe, and identical to the woollen wraps referred to as "faldones" by Hermoldus. [3]

Use

Falding was comparable to the rough red woolen fabric used for petticoats and jackets by Irish peasants. [6]

Mentions

Geoffrey Chaucer mentioned falding in the prologue to The Canterbury Tales , describing the Shipman as wearing a falding gown. [7]


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References

  1. 1 2 Sarkar, Ajoy K.; Tortora, Phyllis G.; Johnson, Ingrid (2021-11-04). The Fairchild Books Dictionary of Textiles. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 173. ISBN   978-1-5013-6508-9.
  2. An Illustrated Dictionary Of Art. p. 134.
  3. 1 2 Chaucer, Geoffrey (1892). Chaucer, the Prologue, the Knightes Tale the Nonne Preestes Tale from the Canterbury Tales. At the Clarendon Press. p. 155.
  4. McClellan, Elisabeth (1906). Historic dress 1607 to 1800. Robarts - University of Toronto. London : J. Lane. p. 386.
  5. Mack, Maynard (1956). World Masterpieces. Norton. p. 724.
  6. Davis), Mrs Aria (Eliza (1906). Costume: Fanciful, Historical, and Theatrical. Macmillan and Company, limited. p. 108.
  7. Chaucer, Geoffrey (1892). Chaucer, the Prologue, the Knightes Tale the Nonne Preestes Tale from the Canterbury Tales. At the Clarendon Press. p. 14.