The Metropolitan Museum of Art French Paisley Striped Oversize Wool-Blend Shawl Best

In The Early 19Th Century, Luxurious Shawls From Kashmir Became Indispensable Accessories For Fashionable European Women. The Rich Patterns On These Imported Hand-Woven Shawls Usually Incorporated The Boteh Form, An Ancient Persian Motif Based On The Tree Of Life. By The Mid-Century, Machine-Made Imitations Were Being Produced In Europe. Our Shawl Recalls A Finely Woven Wool-And-Silk Shawl (1860–75), Probably French And Housed At The Met.