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Shawl

ca. 1841 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Woven shawl with the insignia of the Prince of Wales. In the four corners are three Prince of Wales's feathers linked by the motto 'ICH DIEN' rising from a small shield with the leopards of England to dominate each quarter. The feathers are broad, brightly banded lines, with an inner growth of green, yellow and brown and an outer growth of red and yellow. A meander of roses, thistles and a little shamrock, with small shields superimposed bear the arms of Scotland and Ireland form a free border to link the corner designs with the central feature of each side, where there are four shields, with the arms of France, the Prince of Wales's feathers and two sets of the Leopards of England (which because of the point repeat are shown in opposite directions) over a symmetrical arrangement of delicate sprays bearing more roses, thistles and shamrocks which reach in towards a central wreath of thistles around a rosette of roses and rose buds.

All this is woven in bright red, bright mid-blue, dull yellow, pale yellow-green and very dark brown wool with pale yellow silk on a creamy-white ground bound in twills. At the top and bottom is a narrow fancy edging in white before the silk warp forms a lattice fringe with three rows of knots. A smaller fringe is knotted into the selvedges.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Wool and silk
Brief description
Square woven shawl of wool and silk, Paisley, Scotland, ca. 1841
Physical description
Woven shawl with the insignia of the Prince of Wales. In the four corners are three Prince of Wales's feathers linked by the motto 'ICH DIEN' rising from a small shield with the leopards of England to dominate each quarter. The feathers are broad, brightly banded lines, with an inner growth of green, yellow and brown and an outer growth of red and yellow. A meander of roses, thistles and a little shamrock, with small shields superimposed bear the arms of Scotland and Ireland form a free border to link the corner designs with the central feature of each side, where there are four shields, with the arms of France, the Prince of Wales's feathers and two sets of the Leopards of England (which because of the point repeat are shown in opposite directions) over a symmetrical arrangement of delicate sprays bearing more roses, thistles and shamrocks which reach in towards a central wreath of thistles around a rosette of roses and rose buds.

All this is woven in bright red, bright mid-blue, dull yellow, pale yellow-green and very dark brown wool with pale yellow silk on a creamy-white ground bound in twills. At the top and bottom is a narrow fancy edging in white before the silk warp forms a lattice fringe with three rows of knots. A smaller fringe is knotted into the selvedges.
Dimensions
  • Width: 65in
  • Length: 67.75in
  • Width: 1950mm (Note: including fringe)
  • Length: 2010mm (Note: including fringe)
Gallery label
(1984)
WOVEN SHAWL, square.
Scottish; Paisley? 1842.
Insignia of the Prince of Wales woven here may be no more than part of the plethora of commemorative textiles celebrating the birth of Albert Edward, 9 November 1841. An advertisement in The Times of 3 June 1842, however, reads: 'The Queen's commands... to Messrs Everington and Graham, for the production of an original shawl, the Prince of Wales's Feather, have been executed in a manner highly creditable to the weavers of Paisley. Her Majesty's approbation has been testified by a liberal order, the completion of which throws open to a public inspection the only shawl made expressly for the Queen. The fabric is of goats' wool, ... Gracefully drooping feathers intermingling with the emblems of the nation form the design.' Shawls of this design were subsequently offered for sale by Everington and Graham, the shawl warehousemen. The wool of this shawl is very soft and light like goats' wool.
Collection
Accession number
T.24-1981

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
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