Glossary
- Radiocarbon DatingThe technique of dating an organic substance according to the amount of radioactive carbon (14C) remaining in it.
- Raja(Indonesia) a local king or sultan.
- Ramie(Boehmeria nivea) a plant from the nettle family traditionally used as a source of bast fiber for weaving.
- Raphia(Raphia sp) a type of palm used as a source of leaf fiber for textile manufacture in some parts of Africa.
- ReedA comb-like device used on a loom that keeps warp threads evenly spaced and helps prevent tangling. In Indonesia this is mainly found on looms in the western part of the archipelago, as well as parts of flores, sulawesi and sangir. A reed is helpful for making balanced weaves, particularly in textiles with a silk warp. (Two) device resembling a comb, used for keeping warp threads in sequence and evenly spaced. Usually positioned near the weaver, just in front of the leading edge of the fabric being woven. In some looms the reed is also used to beat-in the weft.
- Resist-DyeingA group of techniques that use resists to selectively dye parts of yarns or textiles, leaving a design reserved in white on a colored ground. This can be applied to the yarn before weaving (ikat), or to the finished textile. The latter type can be divided into techniques where the design is reserved using a liquid resist such as wax (batik), or compression-resist techniques such as stitch resist (tritik) and tie-dye (plangi).
- Synonym for carpet.
- Rug or Carpet Knot
A segment of supplementary wrapping weft whose cut ends project above the surface of the carpet. Although called a “knot,” the yarn segments are not actually tied, but just wrapped around the warp yarns and are held in place by the ground weft yarns. Depending on the coarseness of the yarns and how closely they are set, the number of “knots” per square inch of a carpet can range from less than 50 to more than 1,000.