Horizontally rectangular shawl fragment. Backdrop is a well-worn tan color. Fragment has two rows of repeating teardrop shapes; one small across the center of the fragment, and one larger at the bottom. In between the two rows is a row of small, red circles, each circle comprised of flower petals. In between each teardrop shape within the large, bottom row is a leafy vine, extending from the bottom row of red circles to the row between the two teardrop rows. The teardrops themselves are comrpised of small blue and red patterns.

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See more objects with the tag borders, flowers, women's fashion accessories, women's clothing, warmth, Imitative, paisley, carnations.

See more objects with the color tan grey darkolivegreen sienna darkslategrey or see all the colors for this object.

Object Timeline

1941	We acquired this object.
2013	We photographed this object. We photographed this object.
2014	We photographed this object. We exhibited this object. This was an Object of the Day.
2019	We exhibited this object.
2024	You found it!

Shawl Border (France)

This is a Shawl border. It is dated early 19th century and we acquired it in 1941. Its medium is silk and its technique is twill weave with discontinuous supplementary weft patterning (brocade). It is a part of the Textiles department.

The boteh, or paisley motif, is derived from Persian, Indian, and European sources, and developed its current form during the Kashmir shawl craze of the late 18th and 19th centuries. Its English name refers to Paisley, Scotland, a major production center for imitation Kashmir shawls.

This object was featured in our Object of the Week series in a post titled Passion for Exotic Fashion.

This object was donated by Anonymous. It is credited Gift of Anonymous Donor.