A. Sulka scarf

[Better Dresses Vintage]

Hi, All. Here's a scarf from A. Sulka. I can't find an exact match on the label resource. The silk seems quiet old, with some small shatters, but that could simply be from poor storage conditions and not age, per se. The photos aren't terrific, but there is a soft, short, self- fringe at the ends. It is oblong, 11" w x 50" long. Any ideas when this might be from?? Thanks! Liza

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

All I can add is that the pattern looks very Art Nouveau time period, circa 1910 to perhaps early 1920s. Didn't Sulka make those wonderful vicuna and cashmere coats also?

It is gorgeous, and a rare find indeed, even if it does have a flaw.

 

[Circa Vintage Clothing]

I agree with Barbara that the motifs have an Art Nouveau feel but I don't think it's that old - the design is also looking '60s to me, and as well I'm intrigued by the label saying "natural silk". Fabrics pre-synthetics would not likely say this, they tend to just say "silk" so I will date as '60s - also I think the fonts on the label most closely resemble the '60s ones in the LR.

The good news is that if it is '60s, the damage is unlikely to be shattering, and so if it's repaired it will stay repaired rather than continue to disintegrate! I doubt a scarf of this sort would be made of weighted silk anyway, as it's best to have it soft and flowing rather than stiff and rustley.

 

[poppysvintageclothing]

It's a very pretty scarf, I would think from the late 50s / early 60s and I think this style was often used to wear on your head and tie up to the back of the neckline, with a great pair of French or Italian sunglasses...while you drove away in your smart convertible car!

 

[northstarvintage]

Very nice find - I have had a few Sulka items, including a Vicuna robe - they are amazing pieces.

As far as I know, Sulka only did menswear, so this was probably a scarf of some sort, despite the color scheme

http://www.styleforum.net/t/240/sulka

 

[fuzzylizzie]

Just by going by the photos, it looks 1920s, early 30s to me, especially with that self-fringe and the design of the label. In the 1920s rayon was often called "artificial silk" so it stands to reason a high quality company like Sulka would point out their product was real silk.

Sometimes it can be really hard to judge a simple item like a scarf without feeling the textile. And the fact that this was made by a company like Sulka that continued to put out high quality natural fibers even into the 1980s makes it even harder.

 

[Catbooks1940s]

i'm with lizzie. that's an old label, and the natural silk makes sense for the time period.

 

[Better Dresses Vintage]

Hi everyone. Since finding this scarf I had a suspicion that it might actually be a menswear item, although I could not articulate exactly why I got that impression. Perhaps the "stiffness and formality" of it? It just has that feel to it, despite the pink/mauve medallions. Yes, it is silky and glossy, but it also has an ever-so-slight bit of crunch to it. If I placed it on the floor, and walked by, it would stay where it was (as opposed to a typical woman's silk scarf, which would blow in the breeze).

The holes, which are more like "breaks along the grain," are small, and scattered -- mostly near one edge and along fold lines. If you could feel it, I think you'd agree that it's old. It just has that "old" feel to it. It does not feel like any of the other scarves I have. Just a different sort of beast.

Perhaps in the future we will be able to send not only photos and words, but "touch" as well! That would certainly make this easier. ; )