Tartan of the month - October: What do yo see?

[Cygnus]

... it must be something a female would wear, unless a particular male liked flowers in his initial as symbal?

Nothing wrong with men wearing flowers. In fact, I think flowers were far more common in historical men's clothing than they are at present (though they seem to be making a bit of a comeback).

[xman]

Let's ask all the questions then:

Who: Well it would seem that this belonged to a woman with a 'B' or 'E' initial.

What: This is what we all want to know, but may be impossible to determine. We're told it's not a shawl or arisaid, but it seems to be a garment of some kind. Is it too big for a sash?

When: The twill edge and large, offset pattern would seem to indicate a 19th century dating.

Where: So this we haven't asked. Where is the piece now? Where was it found?

How: A versatile question, but I'll ask 'how long is it'? in case we might (doubtfully) have that data.

P.S. Kinda looks like Fluter's avatar. Maybe it's his great-great-great-great aunt Moira's.

[figheadair]

Let's ask all the questions then:

Who: Well it would seem that this belonged to a woman with a 'B' or 'E' initial.

Agreed but that's not particularly important in this case.

What: This is what we all want to know, but may be impossible to determine. We're told it's not a shawl or arisaid, but it seems to be a garment of some kind. Is it too big for a sash?

I don't recall ever saying that it wasn't a shawl.

When: The twill edge and large, offset pattern would seem to indicate a 19th century dating.

Actually that style was generally any time c1730-1830.

Where: So this we haven't asked. Where is the piece now? Where was it found?

Perth Museum.

How: A versatile question, but I'll ask 'how long is it'? in case we might (doubtfully) have that data.

It's roughly 3' long. And so the missing question is?

[Nick the DSM]

So is it a shawl? Just so we can get that cleared out.

[xman]

It's roughly 3' long. And so the missing question is?

Why.

[Jack Daw]

Very good. And the question is...?



Talk about left of field. Where did that come from?

From left field! I said it was a wild guess. So, we aren't supposed to guess whose it was as well as what it was?

[figheadair]

From left field! I said it was a wild guess. So, we aren't supposed to guess whose it was as well as what it was?

Well I suspose one can guess but with old specimens it's ususally impossible to know to whom they belonged or even where they came from beyond 'the north west' or the like.

[figheadair]

Why.

Nop.

[figheadair]

So is it a shawl? Just so we can get that cleared out.

Possibly, or it may have been used for some furnishing purpose such as a table runner or the like but a shawl/or screen is the most likely explanation.

Ok, so having given you that let me answer the missing question which would have lead you to this - it's 13" wide.

The width of an unfinished piece is often a most important clue to its use that the arbitary length.

[CopperNGold]

Given the dimensions, could it be something to wrap up a baby in? That could explain the two colors/parts of the embroidery, symbolizing the mother and father? An everyday item or a christening/baptism wrap of some kind?

Oh, I am going to lose sleep over this!

Cheers, Jocelyn