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Woman's shawl
Worn by: Mehetable Stoddard Sumner (Welles) (American, 1784–1826)
Indian (Kashmiri), used in America
about 1800
Object Place: Kashmir, India
Medium/Technique
Wool twill tapestry
Dimensions
Overall: 134.5 x 305cm (52 15/16 x 120 1/16in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Emily Welles Robbins (Mrs. Harry Pelham Robbins) and the Hon. Sumner Welles, in memory of Georgiana Welles Sargent
Accession Number49.887
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia, Fashion and Textiles
ClassificationsCostumes
DescriptionLarge rectangular shawl, plain white central field with narrow polychrome border throughout and 3 rows of 17 butas each with stylized roots at each end; fringe at each end; one corner of central field embroidered in red wool with several characters including a swastika; "Mrs B Welles" embroidered in pink silk cross stitching in same corner
InscriptionsWritten on fabric label originally sewn to shawl, now in object folder: "Camels hair Shawl/ Empire Period 1815-1820/ Mrs. Benjamin Welles Boston/ (Marked "Mrs B Welles")
ProvenanceWorn by Mehetable Stoddard Sumner Wells (1784-1826); Inherited by her granddaughter Miss Georgiana Welles Sargent (born 1858) of New York City; Gift from Emily Welles Robbins (Mrs. Harry Pelham Robbins) and the Hon. Sumner Welles, in memory of Georgiana Welles Sargent, to MFA, September 15, 1949