Scarf

The shoulder shawl is an element of the Pyrzyce folk costume. It is made of thin, woollen, green fabric and is decorated with multicoloured, flat, laid embroidery with floral motifs, dominated by red. The delicate embroidery in the corner with the inscription ‘Constantine Plath’ and the date ‘1866’ indicate the owner’s probable personal details and the date of the shawl creation. Green indicates that she was a young, unmarried woman, and the richness of the embroidery, the use of gold cord and sequins to accentuate it, and the edging with tassels testify to her good financial situation. A richly decorated shawl is an element of festive clothing, the purchase of which, even for the wealthy, was a financial challenge. The costume was somewhat capital investment and was often fully or partially passed on from generation to generation. The shawl is embroidered on one side only, which proves the good financial situation of the person wearing it. The fabric for shawls made of fine wool (in the 19th century from factory-made cashmere) was expensive. Poorer Pyrzyce embroidered the shawls all over their surface. Saving on material, they embroidered one half in ‘red’ for ‘cheerful’ celebrations, while the mournful blue colour dominated the other half. When necessary, they would fold the shawl with the side that corresponded to the situation. The shawl dates from the 1860s, the period of the most fabulous flourish of Pyrzyce folk costume.

Iwona Karwowska