1920s Silk Piano Shawl with Embroidered Peonies

Magnificent large silk piano shawl dating to the late 19th to early 20th century, finely hand-embroidered with dense satin-stitch florals on a deep black silk ground. The workmanship — including the raised, lustrous embroidery and uninterrupted decorative field — is characteristic of high-quality Cantonese export ateliers producing for Western markets during this period, particularly Spain, where such shawls became central to fashionable evening and performance dress.

The surrounding hand-knotted macramé border with silk fringe showcases advanced knotting techniques requiring considerable skill and time. Shawls of this calibre were highly prized in Art Nouveau and early Art Deco fashion as luxurious evening accessories and expressive “artistic dress.”

A superb example of Chinese export embroidery with strong visual impact — suitable for wear, performance, or display as textile art.

Styling

Drape over eveningwear or tailored pieces, or use in editorial and performative contexts. Ornamental enough to display in interiors as a collectible textile.

Condition

Excellent structural condition: embroidery intact, silk strong, fringe complete. One small section of the hand-knotted macramé shows an area of loss/looser netting (see detail photo). This is discreet when worn and has no impact on stability. Minor age-related signs consistent with a 100 year-old artifact.

Measurements

Square format

Silk body: 200 × 200 cm

Full size including fringe: 220 × 220 cm

Fringe length: approx. 10 cm each side

Material

Pure silk ground with silk-floss hand embroidery

Hand-knotted silk macramé fringe