Kesi Art Technique
The Kesi Art
The Kesi (or K’o-ssu) way originated during the Tang and Sui DynastiesKesi technique further developed during the Song time. The meaning of “Kesi” is “engraved silk” - describing rows of alternating colored threads that are cut at the ends after they are woven - and with a method and beauty that is widely known to rival that of embroidery techniques in Europe.
The Kesi is a labor intensive craftsmanship, weaving colored Chinese silk by hands on a 2000-thread loom in running the shuttle back and forth on a small surface and then cutting the threads at the ends.
One day of labour creates only a few centimeters of fabric at the maximum per output. A documented text stated during the Shunzhi of Qing Dynasty to prove the Kesi craftsman’s work on an imperial dragon robe to be a consuming process of 387 days in total from design to completion, which record was a proof of the extraordinary value of the Kesi technique.
Kesi silk is a great gift for loved ones or yourself. It’s an excellent way to decorate your living room, hang in your bedroom or use it as a point of relaxation in your study or maybe have a dress made out of it.