Chinese Silk Embroidery - Vintage Signed Piano Shawl

About the Item

What a magnificent one-of-a-kind Valentine's Day gift this would be! Wow!! This Chinese silk embroidered shawl is signed by the maker--a very rare find, indeed. This piece is also known as a Canton Manton de Manila or flamenco shawl. Hand embroidered in China, these beautiful silk shawls were exported on Manilla galleons, (hence the name) at least since the early 19th century.. According to Simy Jelaso (2020), "during the 19th Century the Spanish upper class women found that the Manila shawl was an essential thing to wear with their dresses as they provided elegance and warmth to the bare shoulders. Many also used them to decorate grand pianos or sofas in luxurious homes. Over the years the embroidered shawl became a token of the female dress and spread throughout the entire country including flamenco dancers who used them as the perfect complement for their dance. Nowadays this timeless "piece of art" is a must have accessory in the wardrobe of any Spanish woman. The Manila shawl is a beautiful compliment to any dress whether you go to a day or a night affair. They are seen at the opera, in weddings, parties, galas and in popular town festivals, bullfights and processions. In some towns they are also used to decorate the balconies of the houses during significant celebrations" (para. 5-6). These large scarves or shawls were also common attire in the 1920s Art Deco period and were used in later Morphew Collection wrap around haute couture dresses, kaftans, and scarves. Exquisitely embroidered on both sides, this vintage Canton Manton de Manila boasts mastery of the ancient craft for which Canton (modern Guangzhou) is known. It comes in the popular ivory silk background with delicately balanced magenta, blue, mauve, pink, and peach silk hand embroidered flowers. The crochet band and hand knotted silk fringe surrounds the 62 x 62 inch rounded edge embroidered silk fabric, and the weight is approximately 4 pounds. The shawl is in excellent condition with no fading, stains, or holes and only the occasional loose thread. It was purchased at an estate auction and was in a Holt Renfrew box found in the attic of the owners home. Holt Renfrew is a luxury Canadian department store that has been in business since 1837. This shawl may be older than stated, and could have been specially designed haute couture piece of the time, given that it is signed by the maker.

Dimensions:

Height: 83 in (210.82 cm)Width: 83 in (210.82 cm)Depth: 0.015 in (0.39 mm)

Style:

Art Deco (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Fabric,Organic Material,Silk,Textile,Thread,Embroidered,Hand-Crafted,Needlework

Place of Origin:

China

Period:

Mid-20th Century

Date of Manufacture:

1900-1950