Featured help id French (?) silk damask tablecloth with genre scenes

Hello folks,
I am clearing out my mom's house and have been finding all kinds of interesting things from her parents and grandparents. Lots of gorgeous linens, I'll probably make a few posts...One of the things I found was a large, beautiful tablecloth in white silk damask (I think, not an expert!) with various scenes taken from the painter Watteau (or loosely inspired by him). Anyone have seen something like this?

I also found some piano shaws (Ithink that is what they are)--I am guessing they are c. 1910? any ideas I'd love to know more....Thank you!

 

I'm NO Expert either, but those are BEAUTIFUL Pieces you've shown us....not to fear, someone will be along to help you with them eventually!!!! At the moment the site is experiencing "certificate issues" which need to be renewed, I think on an annual basis.....and some members are having difficulty getting on here....it should all be resolved soon.....hopefully!!!!

 

I love them.
They are called 'Manila shawls', and were used as actual shawls from the 18th century on. Despite the name they were made in Canton, coastal China, but many were traded through Manila, Philippines.
They were worn throughout the Western world as well as Asia, but were often regarded as 'Spanish' or 'Hispanic'.
They are still worn in Spain on special occasions, and by Flamenco and Sevillanas dancers. They are also worn by many Portuguese fadistas, lady fado singers. Portugal used to occupy Macau, an island off the Cantonese coast. Most of those "Spanish" and "Portuguese" shawls are still made in China.

So a Chinese shawl that was named after the capital of the Philippines, at some stage became regarded as Hispanic-Iberian, and in some parts of the world ended up on pianos sometime in the 19th century.

The one in the last photo looks 19th century to me.
The other one I'm not sure, either 19th or 20th.

 

Maria de Fátima, Portuguese fado singer, looking beautiful in a Manila shawl:

 

I knew that embroidery work had to be Chinese, but not that it was associated with Manila or fados. Neat.

 

So a Chinese shawl that was named after the capital of the Philippines, at some stage became regarded as Hispanic-Iberian, and in some parts of the world ended up on pianos sometime in the 19th century.


Love this story, thank you so much. I guess it was the start of globalization!

 

It is a beautiful example of globalization, but globalization started thousands of years before. We are just not always aware of it.

 

Important to remember that the Philippines was a colony of Spain until 1898 when the country lost the last remnants of its empire -- the Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico and Cuba -- in the Spanish-American War. In fact, the Philippines were named after Phillip II, King of Spain.

Debora

 

The table cloth is wonderful. What a lovely textile piece. Thanks for sharing.

 

As usual , a wealth of knowledge AJ. Thank you.

 

Thank you for saying so, Lark.
I like history and the background to an item. I always think I am rambling on, which I am, but I am glad my 'ramblings' are of use to others.

 

Gosh, those are all just lovely!
Wow!
Leslie