On the history of loom weaving

On the history of loom weaving

Juraj Zajonc

Although loom weaving cannot be considered the oldest textile technique, it played a significant role in home production of textiles also in Slovakia, becoming a basis for a distinct group of crafts. Finds of spindles as well as imprints of textiles on ceramics testify to the fact that weaving was, in the lands of Slovakia, known as early as the Neolithic period. During the Middle Ages, production of textiles by craftsmen united in guilds developed especially in towns. As early as the 15th century, cloth makers were founding their guilds in Kežmarok, Levoča, Rajec and Žilina. However, weavers were founding their own guilds as late as the Modern history and, compare to guilds uniting other crafts, the weavers’ guilds were rather small in number.

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