| There is a Chinese legend which tells the story of the | | | | century AD where the wax resist technique was used |
| origin of silk - in the 27th century BCE a silk worms | | | | for decorating silks. During the Moghul era in the 17 - |
| cocoon fell into the tea cup of the empress Leizu, the | | | | 19th centuries it was at its most popular with many |
| 14 year old wife of the Yellow Emperor. As she lifted | | | | wall hangings and portrait pictures being produced. |
| out the cocoon it began to unravel and she was | | | | The Crusades (around 12th Century AD) brought silk |
| enthralled by this lovely soft thread.She found that by | | | | to Western Europe and in particular Italy where new |
| wrapping several threads together she could make a | | | | manufacturing techniques were developed and |
| strong thread that could be woven and is credited with | | | | production boomed. The Industrial revolution in the 18th |
| inventing the first loom and starting the production of | | | | century where mechanisation of the textile industry |
| silk. | | | | made production of silk cheaper meant that silk |
| It is believed that the Chinese introduced silk painting in | | | | became widely available worldwide and was at its |
| the 27th century BCE (Before Current Era) and it | | | | most popular. |
| remained exclusive to China until the Silk Road opened | | | | Of course all this was good news for silk painting. In |
| during the first millennium BC opening thousands of | | | | Java the method of batik on silk, using wax as a resist |
| miles of interconnected trade routes across Asia, | | | | was developed and during the Bolshevik revolution |
| Africa and Europe. | | | | family members of the Russian Tzar, Nicholas II |
| The Chinese tried to keep the method of making silk | | | | brought gutta to France where the serti technique was |
| to themselves and managed this for many years. | | | | introduced in the 20th Century. By the 1970s silk |
| Eventually the Japanese discovered their secret, | | | | painting had gained popularity in Britain and America. |
| managed to obtain silkworm eggs and silk production | | | | Today silk painting is flourishing thanks partly to the |
| became widespread. | | | | many books now available and increasing numbers of |
| In India we can trace silk painting back to the 2nd | | | | craft suppliers who specialise in silk painting equipment. |