Textile techniques: batik, weaving and more
The work in our collection has been made in different techniques: batik, mixed technique, knotting, needle techniques, weaving.
Batik: handmade unique copies in traditional batik technique consisting of consecutive colour schemes, where parts of the work are covered with wax to conserve the colouration already achieved. Walter Bausenwein uses this technique and makes mainly abstract work which is mounted on frames or framed otherwise.
Certain parts of the design are covered in hot wax. In the successive colorations from light to dark, these covered parts retain their colour. Apart from the amount of dye, the eventual colour scheme depends on the textile and temperature, length and order of the dye bath. The composition of the wax determines the creation of the many hues and breaks ("craquelures"), which sometimes form an almost marbled pattern.
Mixed technique: work that has been made with a combination of techniques. Non-textile materials may also have been used, such as metal, glass, wood, paper. Jaeger, Le Ster and Vallet regularly use mixed techniques.
Knotting: the hand-knotted tapestries are made on a loom with a chain (warp). This is the network of vertically threaded threads on the loom. A knot consists of a thread that has been knotted around two warp threads. Once the tapestry is finished, it is taken from the loom and shaved. This creates the pile. The hand-knotted tapestries can also serve as carpet (rug).
Needle techniques: appliqué, embroidery, patchwork by Strömsdörfer and Vallet.
Weaving: weaving takes place according to the age-old, traditional gobelin technique on a loom with a chain (warp). This is the network of vertically threaded threads on the loom. The weft thread (woof) goes back and forth between the warp threads, as far as the coloured area of the design (cartoon) indicates.
These weft threads are battened, thus entirely covering the warp threads. This creates the granular texture (ribbed) with jointed appearance characteristic of gobelin weaving. A "demi-huit" is a gap that is created where different coloured areas meet. Depending on the design, the "demi-huit" can be sewn shut or remain open. Hatching (hachure) come about where the weft threads of one colour flow into another coloured area.
A tapestry that is created this way is also known by the term Gobelin tapestry. This technique is used by Feijen, Jaeger and Strýček among others.
Double-weaving: weaving with two warps and wefts. In this technique we have double-sided and transparent (wall) hangings and installations by Matejat.