The Jacquard loom revolutionised weaving techniques, allowing complex designs and intricate weaves to be made by machine.
Invented by Joseph Marie Jacquard in France between 1801-1804, the Jacquard loom came into general use over the next thirty years.
Weaving instructions are set out on punched cards, the pattern is created by the movement of the warp threads, each card controls the action of one warp for a whole pick–the complete weft run from one end to the other.
The machine’s speed and scope for diverse weaving encouraged bigger and more complicated designs and patterns, and helped to bring luxury fabrics to the mass market–tapestries, damask, damassé, brocade, brocatelle , whether self coloured and multicoloured.