Assuit Shawl, Egypt, ca. 1920s – Dark Cotton, Silver Plates & Art Deco Geometry

Egyptomania & 1920s Travel Culture

In the 1920s, travel to Egypt had become highly fashionable. The discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922 triggered a true travel wave: suddenly it was considered modern, worldly, and chic to have visited the Nile Valley.

The pattern of Assuit (or Assiut) shawls originates from this North African country. Assiut, a city in central Egypt, became synonymous with shimmering textiles decorated with metal plates — accessories that quickly evolved into status symbols of wealth and prosperity.

Construction & Materials

This beautiful shawl is made of dark‑colored cotton, decorated with numerous silver plates arranged in a geometric Art Deco pattern. Each plate was individually pressed into the textile, creating the characteristic sparkle and movement associated with Egyptian Revival fashion.

The shawl is in good to very good condition. Decorative items shown in photographs are not included.

Historical Context & Fashion Significance

Assuit shawls were worn by fashionable women in Europe and America during the Roaring Twenties, often paired with evening dresses, dance gowns, or travel attire. Their combination of Egyptian motifs, metalwork, and Art Deco geometry made them essential accessories for lovers of Egyptomania.

Authentic Assuit shawls from the 1920s — especially in dark cotton with silver decoration — are highly sought after by collectors of antique textiles, Egyptian Revival fashion, and museum‑quality garments.

Measurements

• approx. 52 × 220 cm