the history of felt

barb harrisbarb harris 11

The History of FeltThe History of Felt

The Birth of an Art Form


FeltFelt

The word “felt” is a Latin derivative The word “felt” is a Latin derivative and it originally meant “to beat”.and it originally meant “to beat”.


Felting:Felting:perhaps one of the oldest textiles forms, perhaps one of the oldest textiles forms,

predating weavingpredating weaving

Felt is a thick non-Felt is a thick non-woven fabric woven fabric

It is made from sheep’s It is made from sheep’s wool or animal fur wool or animal fur which is subjected to:which is subjected to:

HeatHeat MoistureMoisture Pressure or AgitationPressure or Agitation


Felt is:Felt is:

Dense but flexibleDense but flexible Warm in cold weather Warm in cold weather Cool in hot weatherCool in hot weather Water resistantWater resistant Easily cut into a specific Easily cut into a specific

shape or in any shape or in any direction without direction without unravelingunraveling


Origins of Felt MakingOrigins of Felt Making Felt is thought to have originated in Felt is thought to have originated in

Asia.Asia. Earliest prehistoric findings date Earliest prehistoric findings date

from the Neolithic period 6500-from the Neolithic period 6500-6300 BCE6300 BCE

Cherchen infant mummy dates to Cherchen infant mummy dates to 3000 BCE.3000 BCE.

Wrapped in purplish red wool, the Wrapped in purplish red wool, the infant wears a bonnet of bright-blue infant wears a bonnet of bright-blue felt with red wool trimming.felt with red wool trimming.

Frozen tombs and rich burial Frozen tombs and rich burial mounds such as those at Pazyryk, in mounds such as those at Pazyryk, in the Alti mountains of the USSR the Alti mountains of the USSR provide the richest felted treasures provide the richest felted treasures known to exist.known to exist.


Origins of Felt MakingOrigins of Felt MakingGreeks and Romans also knew of feltGreeks and Romans also knew of felt

Greek and Roman Soldiers were equipped Greek and Roman Soldiers were equipped with felted:with felted: Breast plates for protection from arrowsBreast plates for protection from arrows TunicsTunics BootsBoots SocksSocks


Myths, Legends and Ancient Origins Myths, Legends and Ancient Origins of Felt Makingof Felt Making

ChineseChinese ArabArab EuropeanEuropean BiblicalBiblical


LegendLegend

According to legend, the According to legend, the Chinese accidentally Chinese accidentally invented felt by putting invented felt by putting wool under a saddle for wool under a saddle for padding. The horse’s padding. The horse’s body heat, sweat and body heat, sweat and friction under the saddle friction under the saddle caused the wool to caused the wool to become felt.become felt.

Europeans believe that a Europeans believe that a saintly pilgrim put wool saintly pilgrim put wool inside his sandals and inside his sandals and inadvertently made felt inadvertently made felt in-soles through the in-soles through the same action of heat, same action of heat, sweat and friction while sweat and friction while walking.walking.

For the Arabs it was a For the Arabs it was a camel driver who did camel driver who did the same.the same.


Noah’s ArkNoah’s ArkEven Noah is creditedEven Noah is credited

with the invention of felt.with the invention of felt.

After constructing the ark heAfter constructing the ark he

placed wool fibers on the floorplaced wool fibers on the floor

for warmth and comfort.for warmth and comfort.

Animals, trampling the wool,Animals, trampling the wool,

created friction, theircreated friction, their

movement created heat and movement created heat and

40 days and 40 nights of rain40 days and 40 nights of rain

supplied the necessary water.supplied the necessary water.

Soon he had created felt! Soon he had created felt!


Uses for FeltUses for Felt

Insulation, linings, padding, filtersInsulation, linings, padding, filters ClothingClothing

Footwear; boots, socksFootwear; boots, socks Head gear; hatsHead gear; hats Whole garments; coats, cloaks, vestsWhole garments; coats, cloaks, vests

Household items Household items Coverings for portable homes (Gers, Yurts)Coverings for portable homes (Gers, Yurts) RugsRugs BlanketsBlankets


Home CoveringsHome CoveringsYurts, GersYurts, Gers

Portable Housing for nomadic people of Turkey, Afghanistan and TurkistanPortable Housing for nomadic people of Turkey, Afghanistan and Turkistan More than 50 percent of present day Mongolians, including the nomadic herders, More than 50 percent of present day Mongolians, including the nomadic herders,

live in these simple dwellings. live in these simple dwellings. The nomads pack their gers The nomads pack their gers

and move 4-12 times a year and move 4-12 times a year as they follow their herds ofas they follow their herds ofhorses, yaks, cattle, sheep, horses, yaks, cattle, sheep, goats and camels to goats and camels to new pastures. new pastures.

These gers are hand made These gers are hand made with local materials of sheep with local materials of sheep wool, horse and yak hair and wool, horse and yak hair and local woodlocal wood


Felt RugsFelt Rugs

Felt rugs are a great specialty of Mongolia, Felt rugs are a great specialty of Mongolia, northwest China, Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, northwest China, Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Kashmir; Traditionally, they are considered to Kashmir; Traditionally, they are considered to be the "carpets of the poor," and as such they be the "carpets of the poor," and as such they are reserved for places of work, such as the are reserved for places of work, such as the kitchen, and are used for more practical kitchen, and are used for more practical purposes rather than decorative purposes. purposes rather than decorative purposes.


RugsRugs

Lakai Uzbek Felt RugLakai Uzbek Felt Rug Pieced and Pieced and

embroidered felt embroidered felt rug made by rug made by nomadic Lakai nomadic Lakai Uzbek women in Uzbek women in Southern Uzbek in Southern Uzbek in the 1920’sthe 1920’s

Powerhouse Powerhouse Museum collectionMuseum collection


ClothingClothing

Embroidered felted hat Embroidered felted hat worn by Kyrgyz menworn by Kyrgyz men

Powerhouse museumPowerhouse museum

Felted boots, shoes and Felted boots, shoes and slippersslippers


Hungarian Hungarian SzurSzur Traditional wear for Traditional wear for

special occasionsspecial occasions Presented to a young Presented to a young

man upon adulthoodman upon adulthoodTheTheShepard’sShepard’sCape Cape

doubles as a doubles as a portable tentportable tent

His hat can be His hat can be worn with the worn with the brim down for brim down for warmth or out warmth or out for a visorfor a visor


Everything Old is New Again!Everything Old is New Again!

Since the mid 70’s felt making has enjoyed a Since the mid 70’s felt making has enjoyed a renewed sense of identityrenewed sense of identity

It has regained popularity because of its It has regained popularity because of its traditional usefulness for clothing and traditional usefulness for clothing and household items And it has come into its own household items And it has come into its own as a pure art formas a pure art form Traditional boundaries have been stretched Traditional boundaries have been stretched Its usefulness pushed into the realm of aestheticsIts usefulness pushed into the realm of aesthetics


Infinite Fringe Scarves Infinite Fringe Scarves by Lori Floodby Lori Flood


Hats; Traditional and NewHats; Traditional and Newby Lori Floodby Lori Flood


Vessels; containers for the spiritVessels; containers for the spirit


Felted Vessels Felted Vessels by Sharon Costelloby Sharon Costello

Mother Earth

Earth Images


Earth Images back view


Furnishings Furnishings by Nicole Chased Telaarby Nicole Chased Telaar


Area Rugs Area Rugs by Nicole Chazaud Telaarby Nicole Chazaud Telaar


Wall Art Wall Art by Nicole Chased Telaarby Nicole Chased Telaar


Painting with Felt Painting with Felt by Pat Sparksby Pat Sparks

White Flower and the Old Red HouseOriental Poppies


Dolls; Dolls; to amuse and comfortto amuse and comfort

by Birgitte Krag Hansenby Birgitte Krag Hansen By Gina Barr EigerBy Gina Barr Eiger


Dolls by Dolls by Sharon CostelloSharon Costello


Masks Masks by Faye Wilkinsonby Faye Wilkinson

Masks are powerful Masks are powerful instruments of instruments of communication. They havecommunication. They have been used since the dawn of been used since the dawn of Creation to tell a story, heal Creation to tell a story, heal and transform. They can and transform. They can conceal and protect as well conceal and protect as well as reveal and enlighten.as reveal and enlighten.

PoseidonessPoseidoness


As you can see felt is not only As you can see felt is not only functional but is exciting and contains functional but is exciting and contains a beauty all its own, regardless of its a beauty all its own, regardless of its

purpose.purpose.

the history of felt

Documents

blue felt

invention of felt

invented felt

origins of felt makinggreeks

sheeps wool

wool fibers

embroidered felt rug

red wool trimming