This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Wjewjurka (talk | contribs) at 23:17, 11 December 2024 (←Created page with 'The '''Golden Spider Silk Cape''' is a rare and unique textile woven from the silk of over 1.2 million Madagascar red-legged golden orb-weaver spiders (''Trichonephila inaurata''). Known for its rich golden hue, which is a result of the natural colouration of the spider silk, it is often regarded as the rarest textile on Earth.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Davis |first1=Ava |title=World’s rarest textile is made from the silk of...'). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 23:17, 11 December 2024 by Wjewjurka (talk | contribs) (←Created page with 'The '''Golden Spider Silk Cape''' is a rare and unique textile woven from the silk of over 1.2 million Madagascar red-legged golden orb-weaver spiders (''Trichonephila inaurata''). Known for its rich golden hue, which is a result of the natural colouration of the spider silk, it is often regarded as the rarest textile on Earth.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Davis |first1=Ava |title=World’s rarest textile is made from the silk of...')(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The Golden Spider Silk Cape is a rare and unique textile woven from the silk of over 1.2 million Madagascar red-legged golden orb-weaver spiders (Trichonephila inaurata). Known for its rich golden hue, which is a result of the natural colouration of the spider silk, it is often regarded as the rarest textile on Earth. The cape took approximately three years to produce, and its creation required a meticulous and labour-intensive process that combined both ancient textile techniques and modern innovation. The Golden Spider Silk Cape is considered a masterpiece of human craftsmanship and natural beauty, and it was first publicly displayed at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London in 2012.
Creation
The idea of creating textiles from spider silk dates back to 19th-century records that documented the use of spider silk in fabric production. However, this art was largely forgotten over time due to the challenges of harvesting enough silk. In 2004, Simon Peers, a British entrepreneur, and Nicholas Godley, an American textile expert, began researching and experimenting with spider silk in an effort to revive the lost craft. Their work led to the creation of the cape.
The cape was made from the silk produced by the Madagascar golden orb-weaver spiders, a species known for its ability to produce long, strong threads of silk with a distinctive golden hue. Over a period of three years, the two men and a team of artisans collected silk from over 1.2 million spiders. This process involved individually harvesting silk from female spiders, a task that required both time and care to ensure the spiders were not harmed.
Harvesting the Silk
23,000 spiders yield around one ounce of silk on average.The silk was harvested from female Golden Orb spiders in the highlands of Madagascar. Each spider produced about 100 feet (30 meters) of silk per session, which took approximately five minutes to collect. After the silk was extracted, the spiders were released back into the wild to continue their natural life cycle, making the process sustainable.
To gather the necessary amount of silk, the harvesting was repeated millions of times, involving at least 70 workers. This labour-intensive method was necessary due to the relatively small quantity of silk a single spider produces. The silk was then processed and transported to a weaving workshop, where it would be transformed into a cape.
Weaving and Embroidery
Once collected, the silk was brought to a weaving workshop, where skilled artisans worked to transform it into a cape. The main fabric was created by weaving 96 strands of spider silk, while the lining consisted of 48 strands.
A significant portion of the cape’s design involved intricate embroidery. The embroidery was done using unspun 24-strand silk, adding detail and complexity to the overall design. The weaving process was highly delicate, requiring precise handling to avoid breaking the fragile threads. The final piece was a combination of meticulously woven fabric and detailed embroidery that made the Golden Spider Silk Cape a one-of-a-kind creation.
Exhibition
The Golden Silk Cape was first publicly showcased in 2012 at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London, as part of an exhibition on extraordinary textiles. The cape was displayed alongside other rare fabrics, demonstrating its unique position as one of the most remarkable textile creations in the world.
The cape's exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum generated significant media attention and widespread acclaim from both art experts and the general public. It has since been displayed at various other museums and art galleries, drawing attention to the possibility of fabric production from natural resources like spider silk.
The cape also represents a revival of an ancient art form, as it brings back the tradition of spider silk weaving that had been lost over time. It has inspired further research into the potential applications of spider silk in various industries, including biomedical engineering and high-performance materials. As the Golden Silk Cape continues to be displayed in museums worldwide, it is a powerful example of the intersection between human innovation and the natural world. Textile Arts
See Also
References
- Davis, Ava. "World's rarest textile is made from the silk of one million spiders". https://artifactinsights.com/. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
{{cite web}}: External link in|website= - Davis, Ava. "World's rarest textile is made from the silk of one million spiders". https://artifactinsights.com/. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
{{cite web}}: External link in|website= - Davis, Ava. "World's rarest textile is made from the silk of one million spiders". https://artifactinsights.com/. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
{{cite web}}: External link in|website= - Jones, Bryony. "Arachnophobe creates cape woven from spider silk". edition.cnn.com. CNN. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
- Kennedy, Maev. "This article is more than 12 years old Spider silk cape goes on show at V&A". theguardian.com. The Guardian. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
- Gabriell, David. "Spider Silk is Woven Into the Future of Sustainability". www.synbiobeta.com. Synobieta. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
- Jones, Rebecca. "Golden cape and scarf made of a million spiders' silk!". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
- Legget, Hadley. "1 Million Spiders Make Golden Silk for Rare Cloth". wired.com. Wired. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
- "How was it made? Golden spider silk". Victoria and Albert Museum. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
- "Golden spider silk". Victoria and Albert Museum. Retrieved 11 December 2024.