Description

Antique Kashmir Pashmina Dochalla Long Shawl

Stunning colors in this Dochalla Pashmina Shawl for men – that is over 200 years old!

A dochalla is one which the shawl is folded over twice and worn.

Wool, the white field with two end-panels, each finely woven with rows of boteh formed as floral sprays, original selvage, backed

Colours of the borders are fresh. The field is joined on one edge to complete
the width with 8-inch squares and oblongs. Some stains and darns to the
field. Minor losses to edges. Edges have slightly frayed. Backed with cotton.

While the square shawl (rumal) was worn most commonly by women, the
long shawl (dochalla), characterised by its rectangular shape, was particularly
favoured by men and was worn draped over the shoulder or around the body
for warmth.

The decorative repertoire for such shawls gradually expanded
during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries from elegant, minimally
embellished shawls with intricate boteh adorning the borders, like the
present shawl, to expressive and expansive designs decorating all but the
central field

(Frank Ames, “Woven Legends: Carpets and Shawls of Kashmir,”)

116^{1⁄_{2 x 471⁄4in  296 x 120cm}}

Kashmir, 1700s.

Acquired from Christie s London (Provenance Sam Josefowitz)

SIMILAR EXAMPLE AT THE MET MUSEUM: Link

Please note that the shawl is fragile and is not recommended for wearing.

 

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This item has spent a lifetime being used for the purpose of its creation with the original artist user. Signs of this life lived heartily may be present on the piece in the form of stains, thread loss, loose threads, holes, tears, color run and other imperfections. Therefore the condition must be assumed to be “not” perfect. More photos of such imperfections will be provided on request.

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