Metrage crème-wit lint van zijden gaas met ingeweven zigzagpatroon c. 1900

This is a length of cream-white silk gauze ribbon with a woven zigzag pattern made by Gustav Schnitzler. While the exact date is unknown, objects such as these reveal insights into the socio-economic conditions surrounding their production and consumption. The silk gauze speaks to a culture of trade and textile manufacturing that spanned continents. Consider the origins of silk production, the labour involved in weaving, and the networks that distributed such goods. Ribbons of this kind weren't just functional; they symbolized status and taste. They adorned clothing and domestic spaces, subtly communicating social standing. The zigzag pattern, though seemingly simple, reflects design trends and technological capabilities of its time. Further research into trade records, fashion history, and textile technologies can reveal even more about this ribbon. What we see here is not just a piece of fabric, but a tangible piece of social history.