Embroidery - 140 cm - 140 cm

Cantonese Manila shawl from the late 19th century (Qing period)
Monochrome Gold-Thread Embroidery on
Black Silk - 19th Century
Era / Period: 19th century (Late Qing Dynasty, c. 1870-1890)Origin: Canton, China (Intended for the Spanish export market)Material: 100% fine natural silk crepe, embroidered with gold-colored metallic threads (gold thread/gilded silver).
An exceptional and exceedingly rare Cantonese Manila shawl from the late 19th century, made on a panel of black natural silk crepe. The piece stands out for its magnificent, profuse monochrome embroidery, worked entirely in highly lustrous gold thread.
The design features a rich, symmetrical composition with large roundels and cartouches profusely decorated with dense botanical motifs, including imperial peonies, lotus flowers, and abundant interwoven foliage in high relief. The needlework is exceptionally meticulous (needle painting), with remarkable relief and texture that capture the light in a three-dimensional way. All four edges are richly finished, maintaining a perfect symmetry highly prized in early-period pieces. A high-end collectible textile, ideal for collectors of historic clothing or Oriental textile art
Bibliography:
Stone, Caroline (2013). The Silk Road: The
Manila Shawl and Its Origins. This work is the international bible of the textile trade between
Canton, Manila, and Spain during the Qing dynasty. It explains how pieces embroidered with monochrome metallic threads (gold) were reserved for luxury export and the European upper bourgeoisie. Lama Hernández, Yolanda
(2010). El Mantón de Manila: Historia y
Evolución. Catalog of the Madrid Costume Museum. Essential for dating the peony motifs and the evolution of the macramé netting of the fringe in the 19th century. Sánchez de Lollano Prieto, Joaquín (2002). El arte del bordado en Cantón y su proyección en el comercio español. A specific study of Chinese textile techniques of “needle painting” as applied to the tastes of the Spanish and colonial markets during the Elizabethan era.
In the international textile art and collecting auction market, shawls embroidered in multicolored threads are the most common, but monochrome embroidery on black silk, made entirely with gold-colored metallic threads, is considered exceptionally rare and highly sought after.
Note:
“To ensure the safety and perfect condition of the piece, depending on its size and nature, it may be transported and delivered by the seller personally.”