Black Shawls with Fringe

On the black satin foundation of the shawls hemmed with fringe attached to knitted webs, floral motifs embroidered with white silk threads are arranged in a crowded, but nicely symmetrical fashion. Each one of the two pieces features identical embroidered patterns on both front and back. The one from an earlier period, with a smaller size, shorter fringe and motifs typical of Guangdong-style decoration, functioned as a warm-keeping and ornamental accessory, while the other one which is larger and adorned with longer fringe as well as European-style embroidery, belonging to a later era, can be taken as a piece of topwear.