Shawl
1801-1811 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
Shawls of silk or fine wool were the perfect accessory to the simpler styles of dress fashionable during this period. They complemented the light muslin gowns, adding a touch of colour and functioning as a light wrap inside or out of doors.
Design & Designing
The most highly-prized shawls were the Kashmir shawls imported from northern India. British shawl weavers soon began to imitate Indian designs, imaginatively blending borrowed Indian motifs with those of European origin. The basic design layout on this Spitalfields shawl, with its plain centre and deep borders, is very similar to that on a genuine Kashmir example. However, the individual details, such as the bell-shaped flowers and the bright primary colours, are distinctly European in character.
Materials & Making
The bright yellow and green used in this shawl are possibly examples of new chemical dyes that were introduced in the early 19th century. This could explain the patchy quality of the yellow.
Shawls of silk or fine wool were the perfect accessory to the simpler styles of dress fashionable during this period. They complemented the light muslin gowns, adding a touch of colour and functioning as a light wrap inside or out of doors.
Design & Designing
The most highly-prized shawls were the Kashmir shawls imported from northern India. British shawl weavers soon began to imitate Indian designs, imaginatively blending borrowed Indian motifs with those of European origin. The basic design layout on this Spitalfields shawl, with its plain centre and deep borders, is very similar to that on a genuine Kashmir example. However, the individual details, such as the bell-shaped flowers and the bright primary colours, are distinctly European in character.
Materials & Making
The bright yellow and green used in this shawl are possibly examples of new chemical dyes that were introduced in the early 19th century. This could explain the patchy quality of the yellow.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silk |
| Brief description | Silk shawl, possibly made in Spitalfields, London, 1801-1811 |
| Physical description | Silk shawl with a brocaded pattern woven in silk twill. Long, narrow shawl of yellow and cream twilled silk, with a deep border at either end woven with exotic flowers in red, pink, cream, pale blue, black and bright green. A narrow edging above the border contains a continuous stem with strawberry-like fruits. Below the border is a meander of a black stem-bearing pale blue flowers, flanked by a border of reciprocal triangles in red and cream. Both on the front and on the back of the silk they are bound in tabby by a portion of the warp. The ground is in 1/3 twill. A stripe at the sides of the shawl is made by warp stripes of red, green and cream binding thick bundles of warp. The ends of the shawl are hemmed, with a short silk fringe knotted into them. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | British Galleries:
Shawls were useful accessories for the light muslin dresses fashionable in the Regency period. They could be draped elegantly and kept the wearer warm. Shawls imported from India were very popular and inspired British imitations such as this one. The very bright colours are possibly the result of the first chemical dyes.(27/03/2003) |
| Credit line | Given by Miss C. Wigginton |
| Object history | Made in Britain, possibly in Spitalfields, London |
| Summary | Object Type Shawls of silk or fine wool were the perfect accessory to the simpler styles of dress fashionable during this period. They complemented the light muslin gowns, adding a touch of colour and functioning as a light wrap inside or out of doors. Design & Designing The most highly-prized shawls were the Kashmir shawls imported from northern India. British shawl weavers soon began to imitate Indian designs, imaginatively blending borrowed Indian motifs with those of European origin. The basic design layout on this Spitalfields shawl, with its plain centre and deep borders, is very similar to that on a genuine Kashmir example. However, the individual details, such as the bell-shaped flowers and the bright primary colours, are distinctly European in character. Materials & Making The bright yellow and green used in this shawl are possibly examples of new chemical dyes that were introduced in the early 19th century. This could explain the patchy quality of the yellow. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.213-1966 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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