A Kashmiri pashmina Kani shawl on an ivory ground that tells a little story. Along one side runs a row of palace arches in black, each filled with a vase of flowers, and in front of them a garden scene unfolds: ladies in swirling striped and patterned gowns carry baskets and flower garlands, and a great peacock spreads its golden tail among them. The rest of the field is a calm lattice of tiny black stars, and the whole piece is framed by a deep border of tall paisleys in charcoal, teal and rose, finishing in a row of bright hexagon drops in blue, maroon, mustard, coral, sage and pink.
The design
Figurative Kani shawls, with people, birds and buildings woven into the cloth, are among the most charming in the tradition. This one pairs a lively court-garden scene with a quiet lattice field, so the shawl has a story on one half and breathing room on the other. Draped, the figures and the peacock fall across the shoulder where they can be seen.
How it is made
The pattern is not printed or embroidered onto the cloth. It is woven into Kashmiri pashmina, colour by colour, using the Kani technique. Turn the shawl over and you will see the reverse of the weave, with the thread changes visible behind every figure and paisley. That is the honest back of a woven pattern, not a fault.
The colour
Ivory with black, teal and warm saffron is soft and old-world, lifted by the bright hexagon ends. It sits beautifully over black, ivory, grey, teal, maroon or mustard, and is a talking piece at a winter wedding or a dinner.
Details
- Kashmiri pashmina
- Kani pattern woven into the cloth, not printed or embroidered
- Ivory field with a court-garden scene of figures and a peacock beside black palace arches, and a star lattice
- Deep border of tall paisleys in charcoal, teal and rose on all sides
- Multicoloured hexagon drops at each end with a soft fringe
- Approximately 45" × 85"
- Dry clean only by a specialist. Keep away from rings, brooches and rough jewellery, which can catch the threads on the reverse
- Store folded, away from direct sunlight
One piece only. Slight irregularity in the weave is natural to woven work of this kind, not a fault.
Ships in Attan's branded box with a thank-you card, ready to gift.
