Important Notice

5 ft 10 in x 5 ft 9 in
c. 1930s

Kashmiri shawls were considered a fashionable accessory in France and Britain during the 18th century. Among other nobles, Napoleon's wife, the Empress Josephine, possessed a large collection of Kashmiri shawls, rumored to number about 200. Napolean is also known to have worn them. This craze for shawls from Kashmir, which were objects of luxury, soon impressed weavers in Europe, who began imitating their designs, weaving them on the Jacquard looms. The Jacquard loom was invented by Joseph Jacquard in 1801, and made the weaving of intricate designs simpler and faster.

This Jaquard wool 'rumal' shawl was made in a square shape so that it could be folded into a triangle to form a cape, and be worn over the shoulder mantle. The central field of stunning red is set off by the muted colours along the borders, which have a mother and child paisley or 'boteh' pattern, where a large paisley encloses a smaller one.

5 ft 10 in x 5 ft 9 in
c. 1930s

Kashmiri shawls were considered a fashionable accessory in France and Britain during the 18th century. Among other nobles, Napoleon's wife, the Empress Josephine, possessed a large collection of Kashmiri shawls, rumored to number about 200. Napolean is also known to have worn them. This craze for shawls from Kashmir, which were objects of luxury, soon impressed weavers in Europe, who began imitating their designs, weaving them on the Jacquard looms. The Jacquard loom was invented by Joseph Jacquard in 1801, and made the weaving of intricate designs simpler and faster.

This Jaquard wool 'rumal' shawl was made in a square shape so that it could be folded into a triangle to form a cape, and be worn over the shoulder mantle. The central field of stunning red is set off by the muted colours along the borders, which have a mother and child paisley or 'boteh' pattern, where a large paisley encloses a smaller one.