Art nouveau style Victorian paisley jacquard woven kashmiri scarf, shawl, outlet wall hanging, antique. Natural fibers. In perfect condition.

This gorgeous paisley jacquard woven shawl or decorative cloth is likely from the early 20th century. It has an elegant art nouveau style elongated paisley pattern in an unusual amount of colours (see the edges in the photos). This piece is in a perfect condition, considering its age.

These type of ‘carrot cloth' - or worteldoek in Dutch - are decorative on both sides. This is either an English or French woven product.

Size in inches: 42" x 42"
Feet: 3.5 x 3.5

From the Belgian Bokrijk open air museums weaving demonstration:

The outlet French Empress Joséphine, wife of Napoleon, was a trend-setter in the 19th century. The cashmere shawl that Napoleon bought for her was a cherished and expensive 'must-have' for the rich, aristocratic women between 1800 and 1840.

But what if you couldn't afford such a fancy shawl and yet still wanted to be fashionable? You bought a knock-off. European entrepreneurs quickly brought cheaper versions to market. They copied the Indian designs and wove similar shawls in wool or silk. Even cheaper were those printed on wool or cotton. The imitations were an overwhelming success, even in the rural areas of The Netherlands and Flanders, where the shawls remained fashionable longer than in the cities. Old shawls were reused, often as tablecloths. That's why they were preserved!