BBC Documentaries

The Warp, the Weft and the Weaver (2025x50)

Data emisji: Maj 26, 2025

Master handloom weaver Deborah White is attempting what may be an impossible task – to bring a 200-year-old Jacquard loom back to life. One of the last damask linen weavers in Ireland, Deborah is part of a centuries-old tradition of skill and artistry. The loom she hopes to restore lies in pieces in her shed. Once a marvel of craftsmanship that produced fine linens for royal tables across Europe, the loom is now reduced by decades of damp, decay and neglect to something that wouldn’t look out of place in a scrapyard. With no manual, blueprint or any guarantee of success, Deborah sets out on a restoration, armed only with determination and instinct. This is a huge challenge, and one she knows she cannot overcome alone. To help her rebuild the loom, Deborah assembles a remarkable team: a master carpenter in Ards, a Donegal spinning wheel maker, a royal saddler, a blacksmith and a Scottish loom restorer. Each member of the team has a specific skill that Deborah hopes will help breathe ne