IMPROVEMENTS IN SHAWLS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jean Baptiste Amédée Couder, of Paris, in the
Empire of France, Artist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SHAWLS."
Sealed the 2nd July 1858, and dated the 13th January 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jean Baptiste Amédée
Couder at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 13th January 1858.
I, JEAN BAPTISTE AMÉDÉE COUDER, of Paris, in the Empire of France,
Artist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SHAWLS," to be as follows:-
My improvements in shawls consists in so designing and arranging shawls
that they shall each represent sixteen different aspects. I produce this variety
by means of a double square shawl, the one part of which is very different in
appearance from the other part, the one forming a contrast to the other. The
four angles and the four borders or sides in each part of the double shawl are
of different design, so that by changing the lower corner and folding, say,
half of the upper corner outwards, four different shawls will be represented;
by keeping the same side of the shawl outwards again, by reversing the
shawl and presenting the other side outwards, four more changes may be
similarly effected. To form the other eight changes, the upper angle of the

page_text: shawl is folded inwards, four changes being effected by presenting the one side
of the shawl outwards, and four other changes by presenting the other side
outwards. For the latter arrangement, the half or nearly the half of the
shawl may be folded inwards, where a small shawl only is required. The same
variety. of aspect can be presented by a single square shawl having two face
sides of dissimilar character designed and arranged as above mentioned.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Jean Baptiste Amédée Couder in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 13th July 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JEAN
BAPTISTE AMÉDÉE COUDER, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Artist, send
.greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Jean Baptiste Amédée Couder, Her special licence that I,
the said Jean Baptiste Amédée Couder, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Jean Baptiste Amédée Couder, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and 'vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS; IN SHAWLS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Jean Baptiste Amédée
Couder, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Jean Baptiste Amédée Couder, 'do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the two Sheets of

page_text: Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures of reference therein mentioned
(that is to say)—
:
This Invention is the only one which has hitherto changed by means of the
design or pattern as many as sixteen times the appearance of one and the
same shawl. It is applicable to shawls with raised woven figures, to printed
or embroidered shawls, as well as to shawls that are simply ornamented by
the disposition of the chain and of the weft. The shawl presents two squares
unlike, each folded with the face sides outwards on the line, which has the
appearance of separating the squares. This shawl has the advantage of
presenting sixteen different aspects by being turned at will into long shawls of
eight different aspects, or into square or small shawls of eight different aspects.
In order to obtain eight long shawls, it suffices to turn down one by one the
eight angles of the two sides or faces of the shawl, and to let half of the
opposed angle fall on the exterior. The square or small shawls are produced
in the same manner, the only difference being the turning in of the upper
angle, but to a much greater extent. The sixteen complete changes can only
be effected by making the eight angles and the eight borders of the double
square of different patterns, as seen in Sheet 1. Whereas, in Sheet 2, in
which the composition of the design is more studied, only twelve changes
can be effected; the other four changes would be but counterparts in some
measure of results obtained by the preceding changes. This great variety
of aspects being only obtained by the double use of the opposite sides of the
shawl, as above described.
I claim the exclusive right also of obtaining similar results, either with a
material of a length equal to twice its width, or with a single square of
material having such variations of patterns on its opposite sides as will effect
that object.
I have represented in the two Sheets of Drawings annexed two arrange-
ments of my shawls.
Fig. 1, Sheets 1 and 2, shew a double shawl extended, and showing its two
outer sides; Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, Sheets 1 and 2, show eight
varieties of long shawls, which may be obtained by folding outwards in
succession each of the four corners of each of the two sides or faces of the
shawl; Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17, Sheets 1 and 2, show eight
varieties of square or small shawls, which may be obtained by folding inwards
in succession each of the four corners of each of the two faces of the shawl.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as my Invention to be secured under

page_text: the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, forming a double square
shawl of different patterns, which produce in succession by folding sixteen
<different varieties or aspects, as herein-before described.
I also claim forming the single square shawl as described for a like purpose.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jean Baptiste Amédée Couder, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
J. B. A. COUDER. (L.S.)