Smyrna is the re-issue of a magnificent example of a small "Turkey red" shawl.  In the middle of the 18th century, french dyers were able to steal the secret of the "Turkey red" process from Greek craftsmen who had been brought from Smyrna to a dyeworks near Rouen. This production quickly became famous and popular under the name "Rouenneries". From Rouen the technique spread to Alsace where in 1811 the Mulhouse dye-chimist Daniel Koechlin discovered its secret, and a new style was born, which became the earliest major success of both scientific dye-chemistry and alsatian calico printing. The "Turkey red" style remained until the 1840s, but continued in use long after its peak had passed. Smyrna is the re-issue of a "Turkey red" scarf with block-printed in Mulhouse c.1840.

100% cotton, 105x106cm, 41 €

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