This work of art was created in Kashmir around 1870.

It is a pashmina shawl with a map of Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir, woven into it. It took around thirty years to weave and only three or four copies were made. This particular copy was given as a gift by Maharaja Ranbir Singh to Queen Victoria of England. It is currently kept at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

The map is rich in detail, including houses, streets and mosques. The course of the Jhelum River as it passes through the city is shown in blue, filled with boats sailing along it. At the top, Dal Lake is also shown in blue, with its characteristic boats. On the right-hand side, in a deeper red colour, is the Sher Garhi Palace, which was the Maharaja's residence when this shawl was created.

Sources

• The Map Shawl of Kashmir
• Map shawl