Shawl

Shawl

One textile-length of silk with multi-colored geometrical patterns and tassels. The main part of the shawl-like length has a continuous pattern of stepped diamond motifs in purple pale yellow white magental pale green orange hot pink and blue. The stepped sides of the innermost diamonds radiate and increase in size towards the edges of the length where the smallest diamonds begin again. At each end is a border 11.5" wide divided by thin stripes into 2 panels the outer one repeating the stepped zig-zags of the main length the inner panel made up of squares with similar stepped diamonds or sections of diamonds withing each square. The silk tassel 12" long is knotted for 2.25" of its length to form a lacy edging in stripes of magenta purple white orange green and blue. The warp (vertical threads) is of red yarn which when interwoven with the various colors of the weft produces a beautiful "shot" effect to all but the orange areas. Hand-made hand-knotted tassel. Weaving dates to c. 200 BC in the Philippines One 1/2" long tear near border; several stains especially greenish and brown ones on some yellow and orange areas. Donor's father collected textiles while in the Phillipines before 1917.

1987.005.007