Details
A 'Paisley' shawl
the ivory field framed by a border of blue and pink floral cones, the ends with large cones reserved in white against a floral ground, early 19th century, in the Indian style--60in x 120in (144cm x 288cm)

Lot Essay

The ivory field of this shawl seems to have a pashmina wool content. In view of the fact that well known French weavers, such as Hébert, advertised the fact that they used true cashmire wool, that is to say, Indian wool, in their shawls, this might suggest a French origin for this shawl. Hébert was indignant that inferior quality woollen shawls were carrying the label 'cashmere' and insisted that only shawls with true Kashmiri wool could be called 'cashmere'.

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