Sent: 20 September 2000 00:09
To: ENGLAND MAILBASE
Subject: measurements.
Dear Colleagues,
I am taking the liberty of calling upon you for some information.
In some research that I am doing I come across Italian measurements of
the 1660s and find that at Faenza un braccio "da panno" of 12 once
was 0.638 m., "da tela" of 12 once was 0.720 m.
What is the meaning of "da panno" and of "da tela"?
*of cloth*[probably wool] and *of silk*
Notice that the measurements are by thumbs & arms. This is not as
arbitrary as it seems. Several years ago, I was being shown a chest of
family weavings in the south of Greece. I noticed that each weaving
[bed covers, rugs] was made of 2-3 widths of cloth, which the woman
referred to as "arms." These widths were approximately the length of our
arms, shoulder to wrist, about 22". Back in the US I measured my Greek
spread & rug & found those widths were 22" also. This is a reasonable
width for weaving. I noticed in Morocco looms with two men sitting side
by side -- their widths were double this.
The widths here are slightly more than 22" or .558 -- possibly
reflecting weaving by women as compared to professional weaving by men.
Diana Wright
Washington, DC
Mr. NICOLA M. GENTILI
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