Southwest Wool Serape Fragment in Orange with Paper Label
Sometimes I come across a piece I love, but don't necessarily know everything about. Such as this lovely textile:
It is made of a very fine wool, in a deep orange with multicolored stripes. Presumably Southwestern US or Mexico--but that is a pretty big category of textiles, and one about which I am pretty ignorant. I love textiles and have a decent background in things like 18th century French silks, but this lovely thing is definitely outside my purview.
Given its narrow width (it measures 21 x 92 inches), I think it is half of a serape, the traditional blanket-like shawl of the Southwest region. The texture is very soft and the weight is very light (similar to Kashmir and French paisley shawls of the 19th century).
This has a paper label basted on one end. Looks old...ish?
So what is this thing? Early to mid 20th century? Rio Grande? If you have any thoughts, please let me know!
© All text and images are copyright of Jeni Sandberg
Given its narrow width (it measures 21 x 92 inches), I think it is half of a serape, the traditional blanket-like shawl of the Southwest region. The texture is very soft and the weight is very light (similar to Kashmir and French paisley shawls of the 19th century).
So what is this thing? Early to mid 20th century? Rio Grande? If you have any thoughts, please let me know!
© All text and images are copyright of Jeni Sandberg