Hello gang!
Recently on the assiut discussion group over on FaceBook, several of us carefully analyzed the shawl worn by Gloria Swanson in the role of Norma Desmond in the seminal film, Sunset Boulevard. In the scene where she dramatically descends the stairs “Alright Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my closeup.”
Although at first glance the shawl draped over her shoulder appears to be made from assiut, it’s most likely one of its close metal embroidery relatives. It could be a Turkish, tel kirma style shawl, or it could possibly of Indian origin and is covered with badlah stitches. But not matter what this shawl was made of, it’s strikingly beautiful and flashes with a myriad of metal stitches in the same manner of assiut or tulle bi telli from Egypt does.
The dressers at the famed wax museum, Madame Tussauds draped their version of Norma Desmond in a shawl of modern cream assiut that catches the light with the same metallic gleam. You can find her today standing at the base of replica stairs, alone and poised with her claw-like hand and that classic mad expression forever fixed in her eyes. Stop by for a visit next time you’re in Hollywood!
Now – I think I have to get ready for a close-up of my own!
Dawn Devine ~ Davina
July 10, 2017
