Indian Wool Shawl

Red stripes, and within them, leaves curling in on themselves in endless patient rows.

This shawl comes from Kashmir, North India, and dates to the 19th century, in woven wool. Kashmir shawls were luxury goods, worn at Mughal and other Indian courts and later taken up with enthusiasm by fashionable European women, for whom one could signal considerable standing. Bright red bands alternate here with darker brown, and narrow pale stripes between them. Curved leaf and paisley shapes fill every band, and loose threads fringe the ends. 122 inches wide and 58 long.

Somebody spent a very long time on what was, in the end, a wrap.