To cover with a glaze or similar finish in order to create a smooth, impervious, glossy and shiny surface–as in china, pottery, walls, and textiles. Referring here to a finishing process that gives the face fabric a buffed and shiny surface. The fabric is first chemically treated with a dilute glue or shellac, and then calendered–pressed through rollers at high temperatures, thereby sealing and polishing the surface.
As it is a surface only finish, creases show easily and after much use the glaze starts to break down, giving a worn, country house, shabby chic appearance to curtains, loose covers cushions, everything–which is very attractive, as the fabric ages well alongside the house and its occupants.
Chintz is a fine example of glazed fabric, although at first printed chintz was not glazed.
Over time, washing will remove the finish unless special synthetic resins are used. In our experience a glazed finish may wash out with its first meeting with water, or may last for five to six washes, depending on the strength of the glazing medium, the detergent and the wash temperature.
Unless a pristine look is required, to take the ‘newness ‘off we draw chintz curtains back and across about 200 times to settle them in. If the curtains have cords, it really doesn’t take too long, and by which time the glaze has begun to soften.