Árbók Hins íslenzka fornleifafélags - 01.01.1962, Page 59

FORN RÖGGVARVEFNAÐUR
65
72 Gheorge Fosca, Tlie Villaffe Museum in Bucharest (Bucharest: 1959),
bls. 66. 72, 80. 161, 189.
73 Sbr. bls. 61, tilvitnun 36, og frásögn Blanche Payne af eigin reynslu.
V. Lokaorh.
1 Sjá bls. 25.
2 Engelstad, op. cit., bls. 11, 15, 20—24.
3 Guðni Jónsson, ísl. s., op. cit., IV, bls. 444 (Króka-Refs saga).
4 í Landnámu er þess getið, að írskir menn hafi numið Akranes, einmitt
svæðið, þar sem leifar röggvarvefnaðarins fundust (Guðni Jónsson.
ísl. s., op. cit., I, bls. 39).
SUMMARY
On ancient and mediaeval pile weaving, with special reference
to a recent find in Iceland.
Introduction.
Tlie focal point of this study — and what initiated it — is a piece of
mediaeval pile woven fabric. unearthed in Iceland in 1959, the only example
of its kind ever known lo he found in that country (Figs. 1, 2). As the study
of this textile fragment progressed, it caine to embrace not only a survey of
early Icelandic pile weaving hut also to some extent other European and
Near-Eastern ancient and mediaeval pile fabrics as revealed through actual
finds, written sources and works of art. Besides, pile weavings of more
recent times which appeared to be based upon old traditions were touched
upon. This paper is far from being a finished study of the subject matter
and sliould be regarded only as an attempt to describe the technique and
use of mediaeval Icelandic pile weaving and, if possilile, determine its
origin.
Pile weaving terms.
In this study the word flosvefna'öur (pile weaving) is used both inclu-
sively as a general term for all pile weaving and also, in accordance with
Icelandic usage, as a spccial term meaning close, short napped, cut pile
weaving (such as in English Turkey work for instance). The word röggv-
arvcfnaöur is used as a special term for shaggy pile woven fabrics, and
lykkjuvefnaöur for looped pile woven fabrics of all kinds.
Pile, whether short, shaggy or looped is inserted into the fabric during
the weaving either by laying the pile thread in the shed (knotless pile)
or winding or tying them around the warp threads (knotted pile). The
three main types of pile knots are shown in Fig. 6 a, h, c.
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