Is this a 1930s scarf and what is the fabric?

[dhall]

I bought this scarf from a dealer who told me it was 1930s. I was doubtful at first because to me it looked like a "craft" item from the 70s but the more I look at it the more I think she could be right. But how was it made? I have included detail photographs of the back and front. The bobbles which have an amazing glow to them almost like a moonstone or opal, are soft and velvety to the touch. Does anyone have any idea what they are made from?

I have described them as "velvet chenille" but wonder if I've just made that term up....!

 

[Jonathan]

I have a similar hat veil but with only a fraction of the number of chenille pompoms - I thought they were silk.

 

[regan]

You could do a burn test to see if it is silk by snipping off a tiny piece of fringe, if it is silk it will smell like burning hair. But also rayon was used in the 30s too.

 

[Metro Retro Vintage]

Sorry, I was attaching links for the newsletter and attached a link file to this thread by accident. I've deleted it.

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

Hi,

Like Jonathan, I have antique silk millinery veiling with these puffs, and I refer to them as chenille puffs also. The hat veiling puffs are smaller, and less of them scattered on the veil. I have only seen them made of silk, and always made in France. I have never seen an entire scarf made of these, it is pretty interesting. I cannot help with the dating, but the French silk chenille veils were not made after WWII (sadly), so it could well be 1930s. That is a real high end specialty textile.

The dotted veils made in the latter half of the 20th century and today are very different in their look and manufacture.

B

 

[cmpollack]

What a wonderful scarf/textile, Laura--have never seen anything quite like!

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

I now recall having seen a 1940's snood made very similar, and the puffs were silk. Let us know what the burn test says.