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Paisley Shawl

Paisley Shawl - Shawl
Accession #: 3091.1
Title: Paisley Shawl
Object Type: Shawl
Participants:
Physical Description: This shawl is made of fine wool. Its central area is solid black; each end has a wide paisley-style border. There are threadbare areas, as well as at least one old repair. Each end of the piece appears to be cut unevenly and is unfinished. The paisley border is predominantly rust colored.
Description: Handwoven wool shawls from the Kashmir Valley were highly prized in England and France during the 18th century. British and French weavers copied them, although they continued to be made in India. These pieces became known as "paisley" shawls when weavers in Paisley, Scotland, increased production by using a Jacquard mechanism on their looms. The shape of the shawls changed over time with fashion. Shawls were square-shaped, folded in half and worn as triangles in the 1820s; in the 1840s they became quite long, so they could be wrapped around crinolines. This shawl was possibly brought from Scotland around 1880 by Agnes Renwick Estes (1853-1926).
Category: Textiles
Geographical Reference: Cheney (Washington->Spokane County)
Dimensions:
Object L x W 112 x 58"
Materials/Techniques:
wool (Material)
woven (Technique)
Credit Line: Gift of Barbara Remmerde, 1985

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