Yes, it does have a complicated answer. Scholars are still debating it. Try this website: http://www.florilegium.org/files/TEXTILES/Hst-of-Velvet-art.html for a mention of velvet as early as 948 AD in Moorish Spain. But it might have existed on Constantinople earlier, but silk velvet doesn't seem to have been known in Europe before the 12th century.
Hope this helps! Cindy Abel -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 4:10 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [h-cost] Origin of velvet Okay, I know this is going to be one of those simple questions with a complicated answer, but I was just curious about when and where velvet was invented? Specifically, would velvet or something similar have been available, even to the very rich, in Constantinople around 800 AD? If not, when and where do we first have evidence of it? This is for a story I'm writing rather than a costume I'm building, so any information would be useful. Thanks for your collective wisdom and generosity! Tea Rose ________________________________________________________________________ More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! - http://webmail.aol.com _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
