Modern Bishnupur Handwoven Silk Print Shawl from Bengal, "Dhau in Blue"

Woven by hand of fine Bishnupur silk, this elegant shawl is designed by Somu and Soma. Bold and beautiful colors flow along the length of the wrap, with shades of blue in the center and browns on each side. The artisans name this design Dhau, which means "waves" in the Bengali language. They paint the original image by hand.

As is typical of genuine handloomed fabric, there are tiny slubs throughout. This occurs when a thread runs out, and the weaver extends it by twisting a new thread together with the old.