Scarf, sash

A silver sash, known as a scarf, probably worn tied diagonally around the body. It is thought to be associated with Charles I but there is no evidence to back up the attribution. The sash is made from a luxurious quantity of silver-gilt thread and silk, with deep bands of metal bobbin lace and silver spangles at each end, suggesting it was for elite use. The sash is in excellent good condition and large sections have no tarnishing of the metal, which is unusual.

Woven as a wide ribbon with selvedges both sides. The warp is cream silk, and the weave is warp-faced. There are groups of 11 silver-gilt warp threads at regular intervals which are used to make a pattern of small vertical arrows in vertical stripes of about 20 warp threads. In between these rows are open net strips made from a warp of cream silk either side of a single metal thread. The entire weft is made from a very fine silver-gilt metal thread (metal wrapped around a white silk core, 0.1 mm diameter). The reflective quality shows through the warp-facing to give the whole length a subtle shimmer. The silver-gilt bobbin lace is worked from a thicker metal thread (0.4-0.5 mm diameter).