Take Two

I have actually seen my object, a traditional Mexican shawl, for the first time and while I wasn’t completely off, now I can describe the shawl a little better.

Length wise, it measures approximately 82 inches (not including the black and white fringe) and has a width of 22 inches. The shawl has a full small diamond pattern throughout most of the piece, with looser black and white strings weaved for (approximately) the last foot of each end. Each diamond is about half an inch to one inch, white with some black in the interior and black outlining each shape. Though it is black and white, most of it is now an off-white shade as time has changed its color. The looser cotton strings create a larger striped and checkered pattern, in contrast to the smaller, more concentrated diamonds. It appears to be hand-woven as there are no tags, empty spaces or a shadow of a former tag on the shawl. It is very durable, with signs of wear shown on the color and the threads, but there are no holes or thinning areas. The weave, probably from a loom, remains tight. The material looks and feels durable, as though it can last for years with repeated use. It has a slight but noticeable weight. It feels as though it can keep someone warm when draped over the shoulders. There are some stains on one side, possibly coffee or dirt, indicting it was worn often. Despite the shawl being 55 years old, it remains intact and in great condition.

As stated earlier it appears to be handmade, adding a layer of value beyond its monetary cost. A person labored heavily over (probably) a loom to create an integrate pattern with a cotton material that has lasted for over 50 years. (It is not easy to use a loom, even a small one with a basic weave and no pattern. It takes a lot longer than it would seem.) The cost of material, the loom itself and labor source impacts the cost of the shawl. Setting aside the initial cost of the loom (or similar tools) the shawl is relatively inexpensive. The cost would mostly come from the labor and the pattern used, in this situation the shawl has a complex pattern probably increasing its cost while still remaining affordable. Today a Mexican shawl can cost between $20 and $300. However, to the original owner (as well as the current owner), the shawl’s value is less concerned with its monetary cost then with what it represented to the owner, how she used it and the memories associated with it.