This post is part of the Austen Birthday Soiree
My 'gift' to Jane is a lovely Kashmir Shawl
My 'gift' to Jane is a lovely Kashmir Shawl
With thin muslin and diaphanous fabrics in vogue a warm shawl was something of a necessity. The most coveted were from Kashmir, which in the 19th century was the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range.
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| A century later the colors remain strong, imagine when they were new |
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| A paisley design, click the image to admire the details |
Indian textiles were synonymous with quality, luxury, and beauty. In the earlier centuries it was their technqie of 'mordant' dyeing, which produced rich, vibrant colors that fascinated. This mixed with the beautiful patterns created a striking look with the simple, quintessential white dress of the Regency period.
Many were handwoven with bobbins taking between 18 months to three years to make. But some were created with the Jacquard loom, invented in 1801. An interesting side-note: the loom weaved the design by 'reading' punch cards.
Although unlikely that Jane had such a shawl, it is possible Charles Austen may have spoiled her with one, as he did with the Topaz cross.
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| A Jacquard Loom |
Giveaway
*Ended December 18th
*Ended December 18th
Sources:
"Jacquard loom - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2011..
"Shawl - Victoria & Albert Museum - Search the Collections." Search the Collections - Victoria and Albert Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2011. .
"Jacquard loom - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2011.
53 comments:
What a lovely gift for dear Jane! A shawl of such exquisite quality that would also be something practical in how it kept her warm.
Thank you so much for hosting and putting on this delightful soiree. I am almost overwhelmed at the opportunity to spend a whole day visiting blog postings devoted to Jane Austen.
Also, thank you for the generous giveaway opportunity.
sophiarose1816@gmail.com
Gorgeous shawls. I just know Jane would love one, or that she had one! I have several that are similar and I almost always carry them instead of sweaters, especially when I travel. Have you seen the recent knitting magazine that features "What Would Jane Austen Knit?" Such darling things, including a shawl.
Barnes & Noble has the new Penguin published classics in beautiful Arts and Crafts Movement inspired covers. I would use the gift you offer to buy a Jane Austen volume. :] Thanks for sponsoring and leading others into this birthday giveaway. Great fun for all of us!
Deborah/TheBookishDame
thebookishdame(at)aol(dot)com
I'd love that shawl too! I have something that looks similar, but not of such great quality. I love mine and wear it around the house in the fall and winter. Thanks for the giveaway!
colleenday at hotmail dot com
Happy 236th Jane Austen!!
What a stunning shawl, beautiful choice for a gift.
my email is info at jaromarbles dot com
What a beautiful shawl! I'm sure Jane would enjoy your gift - both lovely and practical.
I would like to be entered in the giveaway! Jen M, eponwyn(at)gmail(dot)com.
Happy Birthday to Jane Austen! Arianne arianne(dot)hartsell(at)gmail(dot)com
Happy B'day to Jane!
hellojands (at) gmail (dot) com
Every time I finish watching an Austen adaptation I do a Google search for places to buy a Regency-type shawl. I never found one that truly satisfied me. I wonder where the costume design departments get theirs?
is there any way to have my email and name go through but not be seen on the blog?
When I started reading your post, all I could think of was Miss Matty and the muslin Peter brought her from India. I would like to think that Charles or Frank brought just such a shawl back for both Jane and Cassandra. They were such thoughtful brothers!
Lovely post--I went through a phase were I was fascinated by textiles, and it was interesting to see the picture of the Jacquard loom.
Enter me in your drawing for sure. Love B&N!
jagreensmith-at-yahoo.com
What a beautiful shawl! Wonder whaere I could get one today.
Beautiful shawls!
Happy Birthday Jane!
Andrea Staten
nikostar@gmail.com
Happy Birthday Jane Austen!
Lia Freitas
labcosta@hotmail.com
Happy Jane's Birthday! I'd love to be chose to win the drawing!
Thank you for sharing the information about cashmere shawls - very interesting!
lisaquing@gmail.com
What a beautiful "gift" for Jane. I have spent the morning perusing the Jane Birthday Celebration participants this morning while doing my regular computer work. Your is the only one that has been beautiful enough for me to want to subscribe to. I look forward to future tea breaks perusing past editorials.
Hubby gave me a Kashmir style shawl to cheer me up after surgery last week. What a coincidence!
It would be very nice to be included in your drawing. My email address is momwaldsplace@gmail.com.
It is so very nice to meet you!
I join you in wishing Jane a Happy Birthday.I'm also your new follower.Shawls of any type are one of my favorite things,and have been for many long years.Please include me in your generous giveaway.Denise @ knuckled54@yahoo.com
Beautiful shawls!
Happy Birthday Miss Austen!
jkaplan2@socal.rr.com
Exquisite! I know Jane will love her shawl. Thanks for the wonderful history lesson and thanks for arranging this amazing birthday extravaganza.
An extremely beautiful way to tell Jane "Happy Birthday!" It's a wonderful gift, what a fortune Jane!
What a beautiful shawl! I think Jane would really like it.
danae(dot)kannely(at)gmail(dot)com
Happy, happy birthday, Jane Austen. I hope your brothers in your life appreciated you as much as I have in mine.
millernumber1(at)gmail(dot)com.
What a lovely gift. It is beautiful!
Happy birthday Jane!
Thank you for the giveaway!
cherringtonmb(at)sbcglobal(dot)net
And I thought I would have celebrate Jane's b-day alone. Love the shawl.
the loom is as amazing as the shawls!
Thank you for being a part of Jane's birthday celebration. I love your gift. I gave her a pen. Happy birthday Jane!
lcsieck at gmail dot com
Thank you for your generous giveaway. I know Jane would have loved your gift -- who wouldn't? I can see her in the shawl!
What a lovely gift for our birthday girl! They're really beautiful and I think Jane would agree.
hmoll(at)nycap(dot)rr(dot)com
Beautiful birthday shawl!
donna
ljldml@gmail.com
I saw an exhibit of Kashmir shawls last year and I thought, at the time, "Jane would love that..."
teabird17 atyahoodotcom
Lovely giveaway!
A shawl is an even more appropriate gift for Jane than you might imagine, because Jane's father, George Austen came from a long line of woolen manufacturers.
And, coincidentally, on the same day that Jane was born, Richard Arkwright was granted a patent on his carding engine. That engine significantly improved the preparation of cotton for weaving.
So, a gift of a fine textile for Jane is just perfect!
Regards,
Kat
Lovely...I can see Miss Austen wrapped up as she wrote by candlelight on a cool evening! Thanks for hosting this charming event and of course Happy Happy Birthday Dear Jane!
Courtney
Stiletto Storytime
stilettostorytime at gmail dot com
What a beautiful shawl, Katherine!! Wow, I know Jane would enjoy that, and all of us are really having fun with this birthday soiree that you and Maria G. created -- thank you!
What a lovely gift for our beloved Jane! Thanks for the giveaway!!
kellik115@yahoo.com
Jane would love the shawl - good choice. Happy birthday, Jane!
Thanks for participating in such a fabulous blog hop!
Laura Hartness
CalicoCritic at gmail dot com
What a lovely gift for Jane! And a great giveaway for us. ;)
araminta18 at gmail dot com
Beautiful shawl! I'm sure Jane is all astonishment at this beautiful gift! =D Thanks for the giveaway!
thx4praying@aol.com
Oh, that is a beautiful gift!
Thank you for the giveaway!
Natalie
liedermadchen(at)hotmail(dot)com
What an awesome gift, Katherine! I'm catching up on all the posts and trying to enjoy as much fun as possible :-)
Thanks for contributing to the success of our party.
Beautiful colours. I've seen the amber crosses at Austen's house and I love the way she incorporated them into Mansfield Park.
This shawl is a gift that women of our day would love to receive. I know I would! Thanks for sharing, Katherine. And thank you, too, for the giveaway opportunity.
Laura
elizabethelliotami at gmail.com
Those are gorgeous shawls! A charming gift for Miss Austen!
Felicia
felicialso @gmail. com
That's an absolutely gorgeous silk shawl that you've given our darling Jane. I'm sure she would love it! Thanks for the B & N egift card giveaway!
orishallrunmad@yahoo.com
I am blown away by your gift to Jane, and am a bit envious, as well.
Beautiful gift :-) Happy birthday Jane Austen!
justforswag(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
What a beautiful shawl...Miss Jane would have loved it...
StephanieCarrico
lucasaaron_5297*at*yahoo*dot*com
Oh, wow, that shawl is absolutely gorgeous! I wouldn't mind having it myself.
Margay1122ATaolDOTcom
How pretty! I'd love to have a beautiful shawl like that, and I'm sure Jane would, aa well. Thank you for co-hosting this wonderful Soiree. It's been fun visiting all the blogs in celebration of Jane's birthday.
monicaperry00@gmail.com
I like this idea. I had heard of these shawls being popular but I'd never knew what they actually looked like. A gorgeous gift for Miss Austen!
melorabrock {at} gmail {dot} com
What a beautiful shawl! I believe I "need" one of those too! What a great gift idea. Thanks for hosting this party!
This is such fun. I'm having a great time discovering so many wonderful Austen sites. Thanks.
Thank you everyone for your entries and welcome to my new followers! :)
How beautiful! Jane would adore such a shawl, I'm sure!
Thank you so much for an interesting post and for inviting me to join in this fun tribute to Ms. Austen!
Happy Holidays!
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