Per la Signora Shawl

Description

The Museum’s collection includes a magnificent silk and wool shawl made about 1849 by Deneirouse and Boisglavy, a French firm that had developed the technology to imitate the hand-woven Indian shawls on a mechanized loom. The French designer combined naturalistic European flowers with the characteristic “paisley” motif to create a distinctive pattern for the stylish Parisian customer. A gold medal-winning shawl at the 1849 Exposition of Agriculture and Industrial Products in Paris is mentioned in the jury report for that exhibition. Its description matches the Museum’s shawl, suggesting that this splendid example of virtuoso weaving technology was probably created especially for the Paris Exposition. Adapted from the original, our stunning special-edition shawl pays homage to the textile designer’s art, and was created in honor of Sheila Bernstein, longtime head of Textile Reproductions.

Modal®/cashmere. Made in Italy. 126'' x 55''.

Art History

In the early 19th century, the fashionable European woman considered a fine cashmere shawl to be an indispensable accessory. By mid-century the richly patterned shawls, which were originally imported from Kashmir, were being produced in Europe.