King Assur-nasir-pal's draped Shawl Pattern Guideline
This is another representation of the Assyrian King Assur-nasir-pal. The best way to understand how the drapery is assembled is to observe the stages below right.
Over the long tunic above right,the king would have worn a shawl drapery. The shawl would have measured 72" X 90".
To drape this shawl, line E to F would have been folded over so that A to B hangs on the outside of the body.
The cord was attached just at E to G.
Then hold G at the right side of the waist in front, whilst throwing the rest of the shawl backwards over the right shoulder.
Edge E to F was then drawn around the back of the neck and formed a sling over the left arm.
To finish draping, the edge E to F was passed around the waist towards the right, under the right elbow, then on around the back until it reached about 6 inches in front of the left side waist. The remainder of the fabric swathe was folded underneath as seen in the drawing. Finally a cord was tied around the waist to keep the draped shawl firmly in position.
The pictures right also show if cord E to G is pulled down so that E touches the waist, then both the shoulders will be covered by the fabric. Figure K is the most usual way to arrange the shawl compared to L, but minor adjustments will create the different looks. Model M is the back view.
Version P
Model P looks a little more like the costume plate of King Assur-nasir-pal above left. The costume pattern is based on a small statue of that King in the British Museum, which uses a simple under tunic plus two shawls - a square shawl and a half circle shawl. 1. First the wearer must wear a tunic foundation. 2. Next use the Square Shawl 3. The square shawl must measure 60" by 60" as shown in the diagram.
Fold about one third of the square shawl over and outwards.
Tie a waist cord on the top of the tunic. Now tuck the corner of the shawl at F deeply into the waist cord at the left side. 4. Next draw the folded shawl tightly around the body to the front. Take it around again across the back of the waist until the left side is reached once more. 5. Now double about 6 inches of the square shawl inwards and tuck into the waist cord. 6. The semi circular shawl. 7. Use the semi circular shawl edge G to H, and attach the cord at the end, to another waist cord and throw backwards over the right shoulder. 8. Arrange as a sling over the arm as before in version K above. 9. The corner H of the semi circular shawl hangs in front about 8 inches towards the left and below the waist. 10. Over this shawl the second waist cord should be tied very tightly to keep everything in position. 11. Further decoration could be added by using jewellery or other accessories. Tassels like these below were typical of decorative finish and would be easy to add to theatrical costumes.