Two lines in French describing the silk-making activities depicted inscribed in plate beneath Latin title. The production of silk originates in China in prehistoric times. Silk remained confined to China until the Silk Road opened at some point during the later half of the first millennium BC. The Crusades brought silk production to Western Europe, in particular to many Italian states, which saw an economic boom exporting silk to the rest of Europe. Changes in manufacturing techniques also began to take place during the Middle Ages, with devices such as the spinning wheel first appearing. At center, a group of seated women sprinkling silkworm eggs with wine; to right, young women warming small bags containing silkworms in their clothes; to left, an elderly woman with silkworms on a cloth. Taken from "Vermis serivs. The history of the silkworm and silk-spinning" engraving by Karel van Mallery, circa 1590-1600.