Silk is a fine fiber obtained from the cocoons of the silkworm, the larva of the silk moth. It is the only naturally occurring textile filament and is primarily composed of protein. It likely originated in China and was an important trade commodity transported to Europe via the Silk Road. The author Henri Silbermann describes in this 1897 volume the history of silk cultivation, silk trade, and silk weaving from its beginnings, as well as the natural history, wild silks, the extraction of raw silk, and the preparation of the threads. Illustrated with 273 black and white images. Reprint of the original edition from 1897.