id:			119769
accession number:	1940.600
share license status:	CC0
url:			https://clevelandart.org/art/1940.600
updated:		2023-08-23 20:00:29.796000

Square Shawl, c. 1850–70. India, Kashmir. Silk and silver filé, wool: chain stitch embroidery; overall including fringe: 212.1 x 212.1 cm (83 1/2 x 83 1/2 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Bequest of James Parmelee 1940.600

title:				Square Shawl
title in original language:	
series:				
series in original language:	
creation date:			c. 1850–70
creation date earliest:		1845
creation date latest:		1875
current location:		
creditline:			Bequest of James Parmelee
copyright:			

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culture:	India, Kashmir
technique:	Silk and silver filé, wool: chain stitch embroidery
department:	Textiles
collection:	Textiles
type:		Embroidery
find spot:	
catalogue raisonne: 

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CREATORS

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measurements: Overall including fringe: 212.1 x 212.1 cm (83 1/2 x 83 1/2 in.)
state of the work:	
edition of the work: 	

support materials:


inscriptions:

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CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

	title:		Needles, Dye-Pots, and Looms: Textile Traditions in India
	opening date:   1985-10-15T04:00:00
	<i>Needles, Dye-Pots, and Looms: Textile Traditions in India</i>. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (October 15, 1985-May 11, 1986).

	title:		Himalayan Gallery 237 Rotation
	opening date:   2019-04-24T04:00:00
	<i>Himalayan Gallery 237 Rotation</i>. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (April 24, 2019-August 10, 2020).

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LEGACY EXHIBITIONS

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PROVENANCE

	James Parmelee [1855-1931], Cleveland, OH, by bequest to the Cleveland Museum of Art
	date: ?-1940
	footnotes: 	
	citations: 	


	The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH, 1940-present
	date: 1940-
	footnotes: 	
	citations: 	


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fun fact:


digital description:


wall description:
By the 1800s, the Himalayan foothill region of Kashmir was renowned for distinctive embroideries, and Kashmiri shawls were coveted by women throughout the British Empire. The center of this square shawl is in the form of an eight-petaled lotus, a symbol for the sun, and around it are the elongated forms of slender cypress trees, which became the inspiration for paisley. <br><br>Every space is populated with figures: seated, standing, male, female, or playing musical instruments. Others are winged heavenly figures called <em>peri</em>. Birds are the only animals in these central spaces, suggesting a heavenly realm. In the next concentric ring riders in an equestrian procession alternate with flying birds. In the spandrels, the triangular sections between the circle and the square, are gatherings under a tent with animals. Some local Himalayan animals can be identified, such as the spotted snow leopard and the snake-eating markhor goat.
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RELATED WORKS

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CITATIONS

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IMAGES

web:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1940.600/1940.600_web.jpg
print:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1940.600/1940.600_print.jpg
full:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1940.600/1940.600_full.tif