Silk shawl - mantón de Manila

The scarf is in the form of a square with rounded corners, with long fringes at the edges, embroidered with floral motifs. Mantón de Manila is an element of the national costume of Spanish women. The Philippines was a Spanish colony from the mid-19th century. 16th century Emigrants from China existed in the post-Counter-Reformation reality, producing artistic handicrafts for the Catholic community. The products traded by the Chinese minority came both from China and were produced by the Chinese in the Philippines. The ties of the Chinese diaspora with their country of origin have always been very strong. During Spanish times, exchange of goods between China and the Philippines was common. This exchange had an impact on the importation of Chinese textiles to Spain via the Philippines, which was reflected in the Spanish term mantón de Manila. Colorful, embroidered scarves with fringes were exported from the first half of the 19th century. 19th century In 1821, Sevila began direct trade with Manila. Since then, Spanish women have worn this type of scarf. It is believed that workshops in southern China and Manila produced and specialized in production for a dedicated market that later expanded to the rest of Europe and America. The scarves were worn folded in half into a large triangle. This type of scarf has never been part of the Chinese costume. Their production continues to this day. Later, scarves were also worn by some European bohemians. They were also used for interior decoration, as furniture coverings