A length of Mallinson's rayon pile silk transparent velvet fabric: "Orchid tissue Velvet". Sheer, almost transparent, fabric with a plain weave base of Japan silk and double-woven pile of rayon. Piece dyed in solid colors. This example dyed black. Other samples: T05751.B (beige) and T05751.C.(tan). Mfr's quality # 159. This color is mfr # 963. Transparent velvet was a marketing name beginning in the 1920s for a solid cut pile woven on a sheer ground, giving a very soft hand. Transparent velvets were also usually rayon pile on a silk ground.