How do I date a black antique piano shawl?

furwise

furwise

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I got this very inexpensively too but the owner said it was 18th century. I don't believe it though. I was looking at some others and I would believe 1800s but not 18th century.

I also wonder if this could be a mourning shawl.

I have been trying to look for dating information but have come up empty handed.

It is silk and has one stretched hole. I have no idea if it has any value to anyone else but I might enjoy it myself if it has no monetary value.

Do you know the dating of this piece and what kind of reference book would pieces like this be in?

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Thank you, Caryn
 
Hi,

I like it! I know there is a name for that type of weave, I have seen it before on antique shawls and scarves, but I cannot recall. I would date it to the late Victorian period, 1880-1890s. It is not a piano shawl, and while it could certainly be used as a mourning shawl, it could also be just simply....a shawl. It looks as if perhaps made more for the older or elderly woman, and so could be as late as 1900-1910.

I love the way you have displayed it.

B
 
Hello,

From what I have garnered, the term piano shawl changed its meaning somewhat in some decades. A piano "shawl" was also called a piano blanket or piano throw, and was very popular in the Victorian Era and whas exactly that...a large piece of fabric, usually (but not always) with deep knotted fringes. Thrown over the piano for decorative purposes and to protect the wood finish from water stains, finger marks, scratches, dust, etc. They were often very elaborate and made of heavy fabrics such as silk velvets, mohair velvets, satin brocades with chenille embroidery, heavy silks, golden threads, etc.... and were not meant to be worn as a garment.

In the late Teens and 1920's, the very large, lighter weight silk fringed shawls with fancy embroidery were worn as garments, and were often called piano shawls, probably due to their large size and fringes. They were influenced both by Spanish fashions and Oriental fashions and motifs. A garment correctly referred to as a Piano Shawl would be a large lightweight silk, with deep silk knotted fringes and usually have fancy silk floss embroidery. Of course, these same shawls would often be tossed over a piano, sofa or hung on a wall.

Yours is what was often just called a knitted shawl, and was probably meant for wearing in the home or casual street wear, very informal and not for dressy occasions.

B
 
I have handled similar shawls in cream, and I agree - it's a nice knitted silk, 1880 - 1900s shawl,probably for an older woman and possibly for mourning. It's much more practical than a piano shawl, too as it is lighterweight, warmer, and easier to handle with that shorter fringe.

Hollis
 
Barbara, Thank you for that information. It was very helpful.

Hollis, Thank you too. It is nice and lightweight and I thought being black it could have been used for mourning.

Caryn
 
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