GORGEOUS RARE LIBERTY of LONDON Art Deco Silk SHAWL NR!

From my personal collection of Antique Clothing and Textiles, another wonderful period piece! This is an exquisite and unique shawl from Liberty & Co., the Regent Street shop opened in 1875 by Arthur Liberty, a store specialized in Eastern imported soft silks and fine oriental fabrics, quite different from the stiff  fabrics of the day.

This exuberant Art Deco design is a celebration of color and graphic design. Textile design of the early 20th century drew inspiration from a variety of sources, most notably Fauvism, where vivid colors and simple shapes are the dominant motifs.

This gorgeous early 1920's silk piano shawl with long fringe displays the bold, clashing and innovative use of color often seen in the work of Paul Poiret, the great interpreter of Orientalism to high couture. Then, this is an interesting beauty for it has all of the elements of an Art Deco treasure, especiallythe intriguing asymmetrical geometric pattern done in coral, turquoise and black.

The wide border of hand-knotted, multi-colored silk fringe around the edges of this large square shawl uses all the colors of the print, and it is woven in an intricate design before falling into gentle strands.