A Thai silk fabric with a calm vermilion base and horizontal striped bands, acquired in Bangkok about 20 years ago. It is ideal for a large shawl or tapestry. This fabric features seven medium-width bands with horizontal stripes. Approximately in the center, there are four large diamond patterns in black or shimmering orange (one is black). Between these wider bands, seven medium-width bands are woven, each separated by three very thin bands of white and honey-colored (or honey-like?) red and bright brown. In mainland Southeast Asia, the diamond motif is said to be linked to the navel and fertility, and the surrounding zigzags represent the Naga (serpent deity). Each of the seven medium-width bands with diamond patterns contains 16 small diamond (or star?) motifs. The composition is the same for each: three black motifs repeated twice, and five shimmering orange motifs repeated twice. Please note that color differences and width variations on the left and right sides of the bands are due to photographic conditions; the colors are the same, and the shapes are almost rectangular. On either side of the medium-width bands with diamond patterns are thin bands of three horizontal lines, one stitch wide, in black (or reddish-brown). Next to these are thin bands of three horizontal lines, four stitches wide, in reddish-brown (or black). On the outer side, there are again thin bands of three horizontal lines, the same as the first set. On either side of the central black diamond pattern band are thin bands of three horizontal lines, one stitch wide, in reddish-brown, contrasting with the black. For the next shimmering orange diamond band, the left side has thin bands of three horizontal lines, one stitch wide, in reddish-brown, while the right side changes to thin bands of three horizontal lines, four stitches wide, in black. Furthermore, for the reddish-brown diamond band on the far left, the right side has thin bands of three horizontal lines, one stitch wide, in black, and the left side has thin bands of three horizontal lines, one stitch wide, in reddish-brown. Additionally, when the thin bands on either side are one stitch wide and black, the four-stitch-wide bands are reddish-brown. When the one-stitch-wide bands are reddish-brown, the four-stitch-wide bands change to three colors: reddish-brown, black, and reddish-brown. The interplay of black and reddish-brown, hidden within similar patterns, brings cohesion and rhythm to this piece, evoking a sense of traditional weaving techniques. The traditional weaving techniques can be observed from the threads remaining on the reverse side (pages 16-17). Warp threads of reddish-brown silk are prepared on the loom to a width of approximately 40 cm, and plain weave is done with the same colored silk as weft. Then, for the simple one-stitch or four-stitch horizontal stripes that form the horizontal striped bands, orange or black weft threads are alternately floated over and under the warp threads across the entire width, creating weft-faced supplementary warp patterns (nukimon). On the other hand, the wider bands and the medium-width bands with diamond patterns also use the same weft-faced supplementary warp technique, but they are woven with weft-faced supplementary weft (nukitori) where the orange or black weft threads are turned back only in the areas where the motifs are needed. Weft-faced supplementary weft weaving involves complex weft threads that are limited to the motif areas, leaving threads on the reverse side, making machine production difficult and requiring hand-weaving. This technique remains in Laos and northern Thailand, and this fabric can be considered a traditional textile from northern Thailand. The colors appear to be from natural dyes, but this is uncertain. As this is a handmade item, please understand that there may be slight color variations or fuzziness. Size: Length approx. 186 cm, Width approx. 40 cm (excluding fringe)