A KASHMIRI RUMAL SHAWL
Kashmir, Northern India, late 19th - early 20th century

Of square shape, twill tapestry-woven with rafu inserts in predominantly red-coloured wools, with a symmetrical arrangement of palmettes encircling buti, with notable white curved ribbon insert highlights, around a black centre with a white silk embroidered cartouche with a pseudo-Persian inscription, the verso with cotton tape stamped 31453 in black ink, the ends adhered to the shawl with red seal marks stamped J&C CIE (?), a deep harlequin embroidered borders on all sides, 196cm x 204cm.