Velvet Ruching

Ruching is a decorative technique in which fabric is gathered, pleated or ruffled to create a raised, textured surface. The term derives from the French ruche, referring to gathered or pleated fabric.

On nineteenth-century jewellery boxes and dressing cases, ruching was most often used within the lid, where velvet or silk was arranged into decorative folds and frequently laid over soft padding. As well as providing visual interest, these ruched panels could also be used to hold brooches, pins and other small pieces of jewellery.