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AUTHENTIC MID-CENTURY SILK VELVET — 2 CONTINUOUS YARDS — DEEP EMERALD GREEN
Please forgive me for using AI to assist with identification. I knew this fabric was something special, and I wanted to research it carefully rather than make assumptions when creating the listing. Photographed both outdoors in natural light and indoors. Almost impossible to capture the magnificence of this fabric.
An exceptional piece of authentic mid-century deadstock garment velvet in a breathtakingly rich, deep emerald/forest green. The fabric features a distinctive multi-striped red woven selvage, adding an important vintage mill identifier and contributing to its appeal as a collectible textile.
FABRIC DETAILS
- Fabric Type: Luxury apparel deadstock velvet
- Estimated Era: Mid-century, approximately 1940s–1960s
- Quantity: 2 continuous linear yards
- Dimensions: 48" wide × 72" long (approximately 121 × 182 cm)
- Color: Deep emerald/forest green
- Backing: Soft, muted sage-green structural backing
- Pile: Genuine silk, based on burn-test characteristics
- Drape & Luster: Beautifully fluid drape with the rich reflective quality associated with silk velvet
VINTAGE IDENTIFIERS
The fabric has several characteristics consistent with vintage luxury velvet production:
- Multi-striped red selvage: A distinctive woven self-edge that appears to function as a mill or production identifier.
- Loom perforations: Small original pinholes consistent with tensioning on vintage textile machinery.
- Stable weave: The raw edges remain stable rather than exhibiting the curling commonly associated with some modern synthetic fabrics.
- Wide 48" construction: A width consistent with mid-century apparel and decorative textile production.
The combination of the 48" width and distinctive red-striped selvage makes this particularly interesting to collectors of vintage textiles.
CONDITION
Excellent / pristine vintage condition.
This piece has been carefully stored and shows:
- Minimal, if any, crushing of the velvet pile
- No noticeable storage fading along the folds
- No dry rot
- No odors
The pile remains exceptionally beautiful and is ready for sewing or display.
A NOTE ABOUT ORIGIN
The distinctive red-striped selvage is an especially interesting feature for textile collectors. Similar selvage treatments have been associated with established American and European velvet manufacturers, including mills such as Crompton-Richmond and J.B. Martin, as well as European producers.
However, without a readable mill name or other definitive manufacturer's marking, I would consider the exact mill unconfirmed rather than representing a specific manufacturer as fact.
SHIPPING
The fabric will be handled and packed carefully to protect the delicate velvet pile. It will be loosely rolled or packed with sufficient room to prevent crushing during shipment.