Detecting weft snakes

摘要: Using recently developed image processing software, the presence of a wavy band threads, occurring only in weft direction hand-loomed fabric, is vividly displayed colour-coded maps local threads. Observation canvas-wide group threads labelled ‘weft snake’ reliably establishes warp-weft orientation painting’s canvas, which key ingredient identifying canvases from same original bolt. A few examples snake detection are provided range European paintings across countries and centuries. The occurrence snakes’ appears more often than residual selvedges for old master paintings, equally reliable designating fabric’s orientation.