This is 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. The fabric features seven medium-width bands with horizontal stripes. Almost 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 red (honey-colored?) 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 geometric patterns contains 16 small geometric (star-like?) patterns. The composition is two sets of three black patterns and two sets of five shimmering orange patterns. 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 geometric 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 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 thin bands are reddish-brown. When these are reddish-brown, the four-stitch-wide thin 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 (photos 16-17). Warp threads of reddish-brown silk are prepared on the loom to a width of approximately 40 cm. The same colored silk is woven as weft in a plain weave. Next, for the simple horizontal striped patterns, one or four stitches wide, that form the horizontal striped bands, orange or black weft threads are alternately floated over and under the warp threads across the full width, creating weft-faced supplementary weft patterns (nukimon). On the other hand, the wider bands and the medium-width bands with geometric patterns also use the same weft-faced supplementary weft technique, but with orange or black weft threads that are turned back only in the areas of the motif, resulting in weft-faced discontinuous supplementary weft weave. Weft-faced discontinuous supplementary weft weave is complex in its weft threads, limited to the motif areas, and leaves threads on the reverse side, making machine production difficult. It is a hand-woven technique that remains in Laos and northern Thailand, and this piece is considered a traditional textile from northern Thailand. The colors appear to be naturally dyed, 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)