Swatti Phulkari Shawl

This phulkari Swatti shawl was made in the Swat region of Pakistan in the the mid-20th century. The embroiderer used brightly colored magenta, red, blue, and green silk to cover a white ground fabric in geometric designs. She used an embroidery style called phulkari that is used in the Punjab region of Pakistan and India. Makers using this style make long silk stitches to create their desired design on the front of the fabric. These long stitches capture the light in a particularly beautiful way that gives these textiles a fantastical quality.