We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Vintage

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Brocatelle?

By Janis Adams
Updated: May 21, 2024
Views: 18,065
Share

A fabric with a heavy design done primarily in relief, brocatelle fabric is used most commonly for upholstery. The fabric is stiff and heavy. The patterns and name of this type of fabric come from the marble after which they are fashioned. It is found mainly in regions of France and Italy. Brocatelle is considered to be a variant on the traditional damask.

This heavily figured cloth is most often made of a combination of silk and linen. Brocatelle is a cross-ribbed fabric, which is similar to brokade or damask. A fabric with origins in India, brocade is a loom woven silk often with strands of gold or silver thread highlighting its weave and complimenting its patterns. In contrast, damask fabric traditionally employs a monochromatic theme.

Brocatelle finds its origins in 17th century Italy, with its name coming from the diminutive of the Italian word broccato. The meaning of brocatto translates to embossed fabric, which aptly describes the rich woven patterns so commonly found in brocatelle fabrics over the ensuing centuries. During the time of its origination, the fabric was only found in the homes of the most wealthy.

Originally, the cloth was supposed to appear similar to the tooled leather that was highly popular at the time. Its raised figures were played out in high relief. Brocatelle, in its truest form, is a double weave executed in silk and linen warp and with a filling of those same materials. This filling added both strength and body to a material created for both beauty and durability.

In the late 1800s, this fabric was known to feature patterns from paintings. The fabric was constructed in such a manner that it was usable with either side up. Gold metal thread was the most common color of the complimentary stitching and was often juxtaposed with the white, red or a medium hued blue.

While this fabric is classified most often as flat, the patterns stand out in such high relief that they create a blistered and irregular affect. While today's brocatelle fabrics have changed, they are still executed on a very tightly and compactly woven base.

This heavy, decorative and ornate fabric is used traditionally within living rooms, as an accent on dining room chairs and in ornately arrayed bedrooms. Brocatelle is a more costly fabric as its production is labor intensive in contrast to a plain ground fabric.

Share
BeautyAnswered is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.beautyanswered.com/what-is-brocatelle.htm
Copy this link
BeautyAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

BeautyAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.