"Corduroy" Velvet

[Lynn Kessler]

I've acquired 1/2 yard of black "corduroy" velvet. It has the feel and look of plain velvet up to about 12", at which point you can clearly see the very slight ribbing. It looks more like "falling rain" than true corduroy, and not at all noticable. The question is, of course, was this fabric available and used in the 1860s?

Thanks,
Lynn Kessler

[Edward Cannich]

Corduroy was available out of cotton and it seems that I've read where it's been made (at least partially) of silk.  If I recall correctly,
when studying up on the history of corduroy, it seems that it was originally made out of silk to create a ribbed, velvet material.

Maybe someone can back me up here.

[BrianKoenig]

I have seen period references to both cotton and wool corduroy, but not silk, but I really wouldn't be too surprised if silk was blended into it.

I have not seen anything about corduroy "velvet" but I have seen images of what looks like cut velvet, which resembles corduroy. I have an image of Senator Charles Sumner wearing what at first appears like corduroy, but the fabric has a sheen I have not seen in other images of corduroy. I believe it might be cut velvet. I will try to get a scan of the image.