Large & ornate museum quality antique silk, hand embroidered Manton de Manila Spanish shawl. The old master handwork exhibited is outstanding. The flamenco/piano shawl was made of a high quality silk in a creamy ivory tone. It boasts beautiful & intricate hand silk embroidered high-relief, colorful floral motifs intwined in delicate vines & foliage. These elaborate pieces were often used for weddings and evening wraps. It takes thousands of hours to make such a piece. The shawl was finished with long, dramatic, lustrous, hand-knotted silk fringe. No doubt this long swaying fringe would be breathtaking during the movement of a flamenco dancer. This piece of textile history had interfacing added to the backside at some point in its life…preventing further damage or unraveling!

History: Spanish trading ships sailed a route between China, Philippines, Mexico, & docking in Seville, Spain in the 16th century. One of the items that originated from trading with Canton was the silk shawl. Women wore them folded & draped over shoulders. By the 18th century they became loved by women throughout the Spanish Empire.

Condition: Great antique condition, but by no means perfect. It has minor staining and one section of missing fringe (about 3”) and a few spots where the backing shows through in small split areas of the silk.

Measurements:

Not including fringe-50”x48”

Fringe length-18.5” long

Total measurements including fringe-68.5”x66.5”