Indian Wool Shawl

A pale square at the center, with feathers reaching in from every side.

This shawl comes from Kashmir, North India, and dates to the 19th century, in woven wool. Weavers in Kashmir made such shawls for Indian courts and then for European buyers, and the curved paisley form they favored went on to be copied around the world. Deep red fields here hold long, flame-like paisleys, pointing inward toward a cream central panel edged in fine flowers and plumes. Narrow bands of orange, green and yellow finish each end, above a fringe. 145 inches wide by 65 long.

All that intricate labor, in service of leaving the middle alone.