Jacquard Woven Wool Paisley Shawl, Scotland, circa 1860, worked with bright red field, the borders woven with long boteh and scattered floral motifs in turquoise, blue, green, mauve, yellow. Victorian, third quarter 19th Century. 51" x 10' 8". Condition: Bright colors, in fine condition, but for one 1/8" hole to red field. Small repairs to border. Tiny marks near hole.

Collection number 93374, apparently from a European private collection, thence from a West Coast institutional collection, from whence it was deaccessioned. 

Paisley was the city in Scotland where many factories were involved in weaving these beautiful - and necessary - fashion accessories. Paisley factories figured out how to incorporate five or six colors into the Jacquard patterns, as compared to the more typical two color designs of most of their competitors. The shawl had to be long enough and ample enough to cover the shoulders, the hoop skirted dress, and to wrap around at least once, if not twice, the torso of a woman who may have been in a cold interior. 

The Victoria and Albert Museum has examples of patterns of shawls designed in Paisley.