Siamoise
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Siamoise is a term for various woven fabric varieties, usually cotton and linen blends, with patterns such as checks and stripes. Siamoise was so named because it imitated clothing worn by 17th century Siamese ambassadors.


History

At first, Siamoise was made with silk in warp and cotton filling yarn. The fabric resembled the clothing of the Siamese (Thai) ambassadors who visited King Louis XIV in 1684 and 1686. That is why the name 'Siamoise' was given to it.


Modifications

Initially, the fabric was a combination of silk and cotton, and the silk warp weakened the material. Replacing the silk with
linen Linen () is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant. Linen is very strong, absorbent, and dries faster than cotton. Because of these properties, linen is comfortable to wear in hot weather and is valued for use in garments. It also ...
produced a stronger fabric that was highly successful.


Further additions

Since then, Siamoise has undergone many additions such as linen and cotton patterns, varied stripes, and checks and blends of different fibers such as silk and wool.


Influences

The Siamese Embassy to France in 1686 had brought to the Court samples of multicolor Thai '' Ikat'' textiles. These were enthusiastically adopted by the French nobility to become ''Toiles flammées'' or ''Siamoises de Rouen'', often with checkered blue-and-white designs. After the French Revolution and its dislike for foreign luxury, the textiles were named "Toiles des Charentes" or cottons of Provence.McCabe, Ina Baghdiantz (2008) ''Orientalism in Early Modern France'', , Berg Publishing, Oxford, p.222-223


Gallery

File:Siamoise flammee France 18th century.jpg, ''Siamoise flammée'' textile, derived from
Thai Thai or THAI may refer to: * Of or from Thailand, a country in Southeast Asia ** Thai people, the dominant ethnic group of Thailand ** Thai language, a Tai-Kadai language spoken mainly in and around Thailand *** Thai script *** Thai (Unicode block ...
Ikat, French manufacture, 18th century File:SiameseEmbassyToLouisXIV1686NicolasLarmessin.jpg, upright=1.5, Siamese embassy to Louis XIV led by Kosa Pan in 1686, by Nicolas Larmessin


See also

*
Siamese embassy to France (1686) The Siamese embassy to France in 1686 was the second such mission from the Ayutthaya Kingdom, Kingdom of Siam. The embassy was sent by King Narai and led by ambassador Kosa Pan. This embassy was preceded by the First Siamese Embassy to France, comp ...
*
Orientalism in early modern France Orientalism in early modern France refers to the interaction of pre-modern France with the Orient, and especially the cultural, scientific, artistic and intellectual impact of these interactions, ranging from the academic field of Oriental studies ...


References

{{fabric Woven fabrics Arts and culture in the Ancien Régime