The combined arts of spinning and weaving are among the first
essentials of civilized society, and we find both to be of very ancient
origin. The fabulous story of Penelope’s web, and, still more, the
frequent allusions to this art in the sacred writings, tend to show that
the fabrication of cloth from threads, hair, &c, is a very ancient
invention. It has, however, like other useful arts, undergone a vast
succession of improvements, both as to the preparation of the materials
of which cloth is made, and the apparatus necessary in its construction,
as well as in the particular modes of operation by the artist. Weaving,
when reduced to its original principle, is nothing more than the
interlacing of the weft or cross threads into the parallel threads of
the warp, so as to tie them together, and form a web or piece of cloth.
This art is doubtless more ancient than that of spinning; and the first
cloth was what we now call matting, that is, made by weaving together
the shreds of the bark, or fibrous parts of plants, or the stalks, such
as rushes and straws. This is still the substitute for cloth among most
rude and savage nations. When they have advanced a step farther in
civilization than the state of hunters, the skins of animals become
scarce, and they require some more artificial substance for clothing,
and which they can procure in greater quantities. When it was discovered
that the delicate and short fibres which animals and vegetables afford
could be so firmly united together by twisting, as to form threads of
any required length and strength, the weaving art was placed on a very
permanent foundation. By the process of spinning, which was very simple
in the origin, the weaver is furnished with threads far superior to any
natural vegetable fibres in lightness, strength, and flexibility; and he
has only to combine them together in the most advantageous manner. In
the beautiful description which is given, in the last chapter of
Solomon’s Proverbs, of the domestic economy of the virtuous woman, it is
said, “She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands:
she layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She
maketh herself coverings of tapestry,” &c. Such is the occupation of
females in the east in the present day. Not only do they employ
themselves in working rich embroideries, but in making carpets filled
with flowers and other pleasing figures. Dr. Shaw gives us an account of
the last: “Carpets, which are much coarser than those from Turkey, are
made here in great numbers, and of all sizes. But the chief branch of
their manufactories is the making of _hykes_, or blankets, as we should
call them. The women alone are employed in this work, (as Andromache and
Penelope were of old,) who do not use the shuttle, but conduct every
thread of the woof with their fingers.” Hezekiah says, “I have cut off
like a weaver my life,” Isa. xxxviii, 12. Mr. Harmer suggests whether
the simile here used may not refer to the weaving of a carpet filled
with flowers and other ingenious devices; and that the meaning may be,
that, just as a weaver, after having wrought many decorations into a
piece of carpeting, suddenly cuts it off, while the figures were rising
into view fresh and beautiful, and the spectator expecting he would
proceed in his work; so, after a variety of pleasing transactions in the
course of life, it suddenly and unexpectedly comes to its end.
essentials of civilized society, and we find both to be of very ancient
origin. The fabulous story of Penelope’s web, and, still more, the
frequent allusions to this art in the sacred writings, tend to show that
the fabrication of cloth from threads, hair, &c, is a very ancient
invention. It has, however, like other useful arts, undergone a vast
succession of improvements, both as to the preparation of the materials
of which cloth is made, and the apparatus necessary in its construction,
as well as in the particular modes of operation by the artist. Weaving,
when reduced to its original principle, is nothing more than the
interlacing of the weft or cross threads into the parallel threads of
the warp, so as to tie them together, and form a web or piece of cloth.
This art is doubtless more ancient than that of spinning; and the first
cloth was what we now call matting, that is, made by weaving together
the shreds of the bark, or fibrous parts of plants, or the stalks, such
as rushes and straws. This is still the substitute for cloth among most
rude and savage nations. When they have advanced a step farther in
civilization than the state of hunters, the skins of animals become
scarce, and they require some more artificial substance for clothing,
and which they can procure in greater quantities. When it was discovered
that the delicate and short fibres which animals and vegetables afford
could be so firmly united together by twisting, as to form threads of
any required length and strength, the weaving art was placed on a very
permanent foundation. By the process of spinning, which was very simple
in the origin, the weaver is furnished with threads far superior to any
natural vegetable fibres in lightness, strength, and flexibility; and he
has only to combine them together in the most advantageous manner. In
the beautiful description which is given, in the last chapter of
Solomon’s Proverbs, of the domestic economy of the virtuous woman, it is
said, “She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands:
she layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She
maketh herself coverings of tapestry,” &c. Such is the occupation of
females in the east in the present day. Not only do they employ
themselves in working rich embroideries, but in making carpets filled
with flowers and other pleasing figures. Dr. Shaw gives us an account of
the last: “Carpets, which are much coarser than those from Turkey, are
made here in great numbers, and of all sizes. But the chief branch of
their manufactories is the making of _hykes_, or blankets, as we should
call them. The women alone are employed in this work, (as Andromache and
Penelope were of old,) who do not use the shuttle, but conduct every
thread of the woof with their fingers.” Hezekiah says, “I have cut off
like a weaver my life,” Isa. xxxviii, 12. Mr. Harmer suggests whether
the simile here used may not refer to the weaving of a carpet filled
with flowers and other ingenious devices; and that the meaning may be,
that, just as a weaver, after having wrought many decorations into a
piece of carpeting, suddenly cuts it off, while the figures were rising
into view fresh and beautiful, and the spectator expecting he would
proceed in his work; so, after a variety of pleasing transactions in the
course of life, it suddenly and unexpectedly comes to its end.