Square Shawl
Unknown Artist
c. 1850–70
Medium
Silk and silver filé, wool: chain stitch embroidery
Dimensions
212.1 × 212.1 cm
Classification
Embroidery
Department
Textiles
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Bequest of James Parmelee
Accession Number
1940.600
About this artwork
By the 1800s, the Himalayan foothill region of Kashmir was renowned for distinctive embroideries, and Kashmiri shawls were coveted by women throughout the British Empire. The center of this square shawl is in the form of an eight-petaled lotus, a symbol for the sun, and around it are the elongated forms of slender cypress trees, which became the inspiration for paisley. Every space is populated with figures: seated, standing, male, female, or playing musical instruments. Others are winged heaven...