Acquired from Caroline Blakiston

This mantle appears to have been made from a wool shawl woven with broad bands of boteh motifs, originally with a central medallion now cut in half at the base of each side to fall attractively over arms in wear, and quarter medallions at each corner that are now placed at each side of the centre front and back of the garment. More information about the reuse of similar shawls can be found in the entry for the dolman (see Related Items). It is lined in navy wool twill and bordered with tasselled fringing that is in keeping with the contemporary taste for heavy trimmings. The front is closed with ribbon ties.

Shawls striped with pattern, sometimes known as zebra shawls, were an alternative to the ubiquitous style of broad borders to a plain ground or central motif. Particularly popular from the 1820s to the 1860s they were produced by European manufacturers as well as the original Indian avid Kashmiri centres.