Shawls Collection

Welsh women road builders, South Wales
A group of twenty Welsh women road builders in Pembrokeshire, Dyfed, South Wales, holding their spades. They built the road to Hook in 1903-4 to facilitate transport to the colliery

Head of a Mulatto Woman (Mrs. Eaton) Head of a mulatto woman Signed and dated, upper left: " Joanna M Wells 1861", Joanna Boyce Wells, 1831-1861, British

Dressing Shetland Shawls
Women from the Shetland Islands dress Shetland wool shawls on large racks Date: 1908

The Conference of Kaw Indians with the United States Governm
Image showing the Kaw native American Indians appealing to the United States Commissioner of Indian Affairs to protect their land from settlers, 1857

Watercress Girls / 1882
Watercress girls buying their stock at Farringdon Market in London

The Mackerel Shawl, 1910 (oil on canvas)
2829776 The Mackerel Shawl, 1910 (oil on canvas) by Talmage, Algernon Mayow (1871-1939); 125.7x78.7 cm; Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, UK; eBristol Museums, Galleries & Archives; Purchased

Oh! wert thou in the cauld blast, on yonder lea (engraving)
1622223 Oh! wert thou in the cauld blast, on yonder lea (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Oh! wert thou in the cauld blast, on yonder lea)

Woman in exotic shawl
Back view of an elegant woman wearing a dazzlingly colourful exotic shawl with long fringing

The Weighing Office at the Bank of England. Sovereign Weighi
Engraving of elaborate machinery used for weighing gold coins, to ensure that the coins weight is exactly right. Members of the public are observing the process

Indians of Peru and Bolivia, South America, 1864. Creator: Joseph Austin Benwell
Indians of Peru and Bolivia, South America, 1864. Engraving from a photograph by Mr. C. L. Rowsell of Valparaiso, of indigenous people belonging to '...the half-civilised part of the native South

"Saved", by F. W. Topham, in the exhibition of the Society of Painters in Water Colours, 1864. Engraving. 'We must sympathise with the terror through which these humble Irish folk have

Les Étrangers dévisagés par eux-mêmes, 1844. Creator: Honore Daumier
Les Etrangers devisages par eux-memes, 1844. La Dame de Carpentras - C'est singulier...ces Parisiennes ne sont pas si elegantes qu'on peut bien le dire!'

Interview at Sealkote, on the 9th March, between the Maharajah Runjeet Singh of Cashmere... 1860. Creator: Unknown
Interview at Sealkote, on the 9th March, between the Maharajah Runjeet [sic] Singh of Cashmere and His Excellency Lord Canning - from a sketch by Mr. Simpson, 1860

Traditional costumes of the island of Gozo, 1778. Creator: Louis Ducros
Traditional costumes of the island of Gozo, 1778. Drawing from the album Voyage to Italy, Sicily and Malta

Housekeeper's Alliance, early 1900s. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Housekeeper's Alliance, early 1900s
Housekeeper's Alliance, early 1900s. USA. Group portrait of women wearing elaborate hats, and dresses embellished with lace, ruffles and velvet ribbons

Newhaven fishermen and fishwives, 1862. Creator: Unknown
Newhaven fishermen and fishwives, 1862....the fisheries are one of the chief natural resources of Scotland...At Newhaven, near Edinburgh

The International Exhibition - M'Dougall's Stall... 1862. Creator: Unknown
The International Exhibition - M'Dougall's Stall - the Highlands of Scotland, 1862. Display of...choice specimens from their Royal tartan warehouse in Inverness

Traditional slik shawls, Pha That Luang, Vientiane (capital city), Laos

Little Red Riding Hood, 1905 (print)
3673964 Little Red Riding Hood, 1905 (print) by Firth, Pond & Co. (19th century); Newberry Library, Chicago, Illinois, USA; (add.info)

Advert for shawls from Selfridge s, London, 1926 Date: 1926

Prince Michael of Kent and Prince William of Gloucester
STC400595 Prince Michael of Kent and Prince William of Gloucester, page boys at the wedding of the Princess Elizabeth, 1947 (photogravure) by English Photographer

Russian Prisoners, 1854. Creator: Unknown
Russian Prisoners, 1854. Russian women in Britain during the Crimean War. The wives of the Russian soldiers, who have been brought to England along with their husbands

Market in old Delhi, Delhi, National Capital Territory, India

Little Prince
Xuan Thai

Women in Great Yarmouth making shawls

Making shawls in Great Yarmouth, Victorian period

A Bridal Group, 1914, photogravure by John Andrew & Son (photogravure)
STC225367 A Bridal Group, 1914, photogravure by John Andrew & Son (photogravure) by Curtis, Edward Sheriff (1868-1952) (after); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection

A Kitchen in the Tierra Caliente; A zigzag journey through Mexico, 1875. Creator: Thomas Mayne Reid
A Kitchen in the " Tierra Caliente" ; A zigzag journey through Mexico, 1875. [Women cooking tortillas. Note metate for grinding the maize in the foreground, and Christian image behind]

The Taste of Shawls, from Falbalas & Fanfreluches, Almanach des Modes Presentes, Passees et Futures
829044 The Taste of Shawls, from Falbalas & Fanfreluches, Almanach des Modes Presentes, Passees et Futures, 1923 (colour litho) by Barbier

Shawl Strap, c. 1938. Creator: Grace Halpin
Shawl Strap, c. 1938

Portrait of Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, Princess of Wales (oil on canvas)
CH141995 Portrait of Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, Princess of Wales (oil on canvas) by Ramsay, Allan (1713-84); 73.7x61 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Augusta of Saxe-Gotha)

Costume design for Rimsky-Korsakovs opera The Tale of Tsar Saltan
5642601 Costume design for Rimsky-Korsakovs opera The Tale of Tsar Saltan, 1919 (gouache, gold, & w/c on paper) by Roerich, Nicholas (1874-1947); 25.4A--23.9 cm; Nicholas Roerich Museum

Irish Spinning Wheel County Galway, 1890 (photomechanical print)
5848261 Irish Spinning Wheel County Galway, 1890 (photomechanical print) by Detroit Photographic Co. (fl.1898-1900); Private Collection; American, out of copyright

The Green Shawl (oil on canvas)
5889240 The Green Shawl (oil on canvas) by Fildes, Samuel Luke (1844-1927); 61x45.7 cm; Private Collection; Photo eThe Ms Gallery, London; English, out of copyright

Portrait of Grace Horsley Darling (engraving)
819521 Portrait of Grace Horsley Darling (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Grace Horsley Darling, English lighthouse keepers daughter)

Portrait of a Lady, c. 1820 (oil on millboard)
2829307 Portrait of a Lady, c.1820 (oil on millboard) by Sharples, Rolinda (1794-1838); Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, UK; eBristol Museums, Galleries & Archives; Purchased, 1931.; American

India, cloth, clothing, garments sellers
Vintage 19th century photograph: India, cloth, clothing, garments sellers with ornate shawls

Red and green printed cotton gown, 1790s (cotton)
3100329 Red and green printed cotton gown, 1790s (cotton) by Unknown artist, (18th century); (add.info.: From the exhibition A History of Fashion in 100 Objects)

Child dressing her dog in a bonnet (b / w photo)
3091156 Child dressing her dog in a bonnet (b/w photo) by French Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Child dressing her dog in a bonnet)

The Youthful Botanist (engraving)
1603581 The Youthful Botanist (engraving) by Rotta, Antonio (1828-1903); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Youthful Botanist. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 24 September 1892)

Flower sellers huddle and chat at Piccadilly Circus (sepia photo)
STC347649 Flower sellers huddle and chat at Piccadilly Circus (sepia photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection; English, out of copyright

Messrs Breech and Berralls Silk, Shawl, and Drapery Establishment (engraving)
587144 Messrs Breech and Berralls Silk, Shawl, and Drapery Establishment (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Street entertainer performing tricks with a baton
Street entertainer using a baton to remove a coin from a womans nose without touching her nose. Audience of fashionable women in bonnets, shawls and dresses with frills

Costumes of the people of Concepcion, Chile, with women in shawls, full skirts with many petticoats, copied from La Perouse

Jewish shrine at Meiron (engraving)
2774963 Jewish shrine at Meiron (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Jewish shrine at Meiron)

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Shawls have long been a symbol of culture, craftsmanship, and resilience. From the Welsh women road builders in South Wales to the Watercress Girls of 1882, these versatile garments have woven their way into history. In one corner of artistry, we find "Dressing Shetland Shawls, " capturing the delicate process behind creating these intricate pieces. The attention to detail is further exemplified by "The Mackerel Shawl" painting from 1910, where oil on canvas brings out the vibrant colors and patterns that adorn this timeless accessory. But they can not just about aesthetics; they hold stories within their threads. Take for instance "Oh. Wert thou in the cauld blast, on yonder lea, " an engraving depicting a woman draped in a shawl braving harsh weather conditions with grace and strength. From exotic motifs to traditional designs, shawls transcend borders and cultures. A glimpse into this diversity can be seen through paintings like "Woman in exotic shawl, " showcasing how fashion becomes a medium for self-expression across different backgrounds. Yet it's not only individuals who cherish these textiles; institutions also recognize their significance. At the Bank of England's Weighing Office or among London Flower Sellers, you might spot women proudly wearing shawls while going about their daily routines – adding elegance to even mundane tasks. Even literature has embraced the allure as seen in Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's beloved tale "Little Prince. " Through its pages, we discover how something as simple as a small piece of fabric can become an emblematic item imbued with sentimentality and meaning. Traveling further north along Great Yarmouth's shores reveals another facet: Women making shawls with skillful hands – preserving traditions passed down through generations. These artisans contribute to keeping heritage alive while simultaneously crafting contemporary pieces that captivate modern audiences.