Golden spider silk tapestry is worth half a million dollars


I don’t know about fabrics and their sources, but I always thought that silk was made from silkworms. The latest display at the American Natural History Museum in New York City has proved me wrong. Exhibited at this museum is a beautiful golden tapestry produced in Madagascar using the soft yet strong silk fiber of a local spider! The creators Simon Peers and Nicholas Godley spent over half a million dollars of their own money to create this stunning silk tapestry. The beautiful golden fabric measures 11 feet by 4 feet and took four long years to complete.

Also read -  iPhone 5 gets a 24ct gold and leather makeover by Gold Dreams


The fiber for this unique tapestry was gathered from the female golden orb spider known for its yellow-hued webs. The giant spiders, common in Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital, were gathered from telephone wires every day by a group of people using long poles. The spiders were then silked and released back into the wild each day.
When you visit the museum, you can see this exquisite piece for yourself and also watch a fascinating video of the making of this tapestry. The video even includes interviews of the creators. A must-see, this golden silk tapestry is expected to be on display at the museum for several months.
[Luxist]

Tags from the story