the look

a beautiful 1980s mantero silk carré, made in italy: four chestnut horses in full carriage harness, pulling at a gallop across a misty ground. the composition is cinematic and close-in, showing the horses from behind and beside as they strain forward, their leather traces and silver fittings rendered with real illustrative care. a red-and-silver carriage lantern anchors the lower right corner; horseshoe bell medallions hang in the upper left. the field is cream, framed by a wide navy and royal blue border and a thin salmon strap-and-buckle print that runs the full perimeter. mantero, a silk house founded in como in 1902, was one of the preeminent italian producers of collector-grade printed silk carrés through the mid-century and beyond, weaving and printing entirely in-house using traditional screen techniques. this piece has the dense, substantial hand of their archival-quality silk twill and the kind of photorealistic equestrian subject that made italian silk scarves a serious collector category.

details

• era: 1980s
• designer: Mantero
• origin: italy
• design: large-format square carré in silk twill with hand-rolled edges. cream field with navy and royal blue border; photorealistic scene of four chestnut horses in carriage harness at full gallop, with a red-and-silver carriage lantern and horseshoe bell medallions in the corners. salmon and pink strap-and-buckle border print frames the field. "mantero" signed in print at lower right corner. materials: 100% silk per care tag.
• condition: excellent: fully vibrant color, no visible staining, fading, or pulls. hand-rolled edges intact.
• size & fit: one size. approximately 34" square.
• flat measurements: approximately 34 in square (photo estimate)