| Barkcloth gets its name from a primitive fabric which is | | | | American households. From upholstered furnishings to |
| made from the fibers of tree bark found in tropical and | | | | window treatments barkcloth was favored because |
| subtropical countries. The outer bark is stripped from | | | | of its durability and dense weave. I have heard people |
| the tree and then the inner bark is separated with the | | | | claim that barkcloth is so strong that it is cat proof. ....I |
| outer bark. Next the inner bark is beaten with wooden | | | | have my doubts. |
| beaters or steel tools on an anvil to spread the fibers. | | | | Florals, country scenes, geometrics, abstracts, |
| Often water and soaking may be introduced to soften | | | | botanicals, landscapes, leaves and birds are all |
| the fibers. Larger cloths are made by layering and | | | | common designs found on barkcloth. Today there are |
| felting smaller pieces together during the beating phase. | | | | many design houses reproducing barkcloth using older |
| Sometimes a starchy glue-like substance derived from | | | | designs. When buying barkcloth be sure to ask if what |
| tropical plants is used to attach small pieces together. | | | | you are buying is vintage or new. Atomic era barkcloth |
| Primitive barkcloth was used for clothing and wall | | | | with geometric and abstract designs by noted artists in |
| hangings. | | | | large quantities is very hard to find. If you discover a |
| Barkcloth made is way to France in the 1920's and | | | | website that shows so much inventory that you think |
| was made using cotton mixed with rayon. Our | | | | you have gone to heaven and back...beware...you are |
| introduction to barkcloth was the imported material | | | | probably looking at a reproduction studio. Most times, |
| from France known as cretonne, a woven cloth with a | | | | you will find a yard or two here and there. It's not |
| nubby texture. By the late 1930's barkcloth was being | | | | common to hit the jackpot anymore with these vintage |
| manufactured in America. During the colorful era | | | | textiles. Expect to pay $10.00-25.00 a yard for vintage |
| (1940's-1950's) barkcloth, a generic term to describe | | | | barkcloth. |
| nubby fabric with a bark-like texture dominated | | | | |