The lush yet delicate illustrations on this scarf are taken from pages in the Album Amicorum of Philipp Hainhofer (1578-1647), a German merchant, banker, diplomat, and art collector. Several dozen different flowers are depicted, surrounded by a border of seashells.

An album amicorum, or friendship album, is the precursor of the modern autograph album, a collection of signatures of family, friends, or, in this case, royalty. Hainhofer’s register includes those of Cosimo II de’ Medici, Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II, and Christian IV of Denmark and Norway, to name a few. Hainhofer collected the signatures over the course of fifty years, beginning when he was a college student, commissioning about 100 detailed illustrations to accompany them, with the more elaborate reflecting the signatory’s status and rank in society.

The scarf is crafted from lightweight, ethereal silk chiffon and finished with traditional, artisan, hand-rolled hems. The generous rectangular size makes it eminently wearable as a scarf or shawl, suitable for stylish day or evening wear. 

71 "x 20". Dry clean only. Comes in a box suitable for gifting, along with a card detailing the origins of the image on the scarf.