Ralph Lauren c. 1980s Silk Twill Pheasant Scarf in Loden Harvest Floral | 34″

A silk twill square from Ralph Lauren, c. mid-1980s, printed with pheasants foraging through an autumn garden: cabbage roses and peonies, violet asters and pansies, sprays of amber lilac, grape clusters, rosebuds, and ears of wheat, laid over a deep loden ground. The birds are scattered throughout the bouquet rather than centered, so the square portrays different pheasants along the border. The pheasant belongs to the English country house: the shoot, the estate, the long autumn weekend, and the sporting prints that hung in its halls. Ralph Lauren built much of his 1980s vocabulary on that world, bringing its tweeds, tartans, and game birds into American dress. To this archives eye, the motif stepped back for a time and is now returning, as country dressing comes back into fashion. The twill holds the color with real depth. Claret, plum, and amber sit luminous against the green, and the edges are finished with a hand-rolled hem. The Ralph Lauren signature is printed in script at one corner. Very good condition. The twill is free of snags, pulls, and pinholes, and the color remains rich and saturated across the square. One short section along a single hem has faded in a narrow band. A detail is shown in the last photograph, and because it sits at the edge, it folds under easily when you tie the scarf. · Hand-rolled hem · Ralph Lauren signature printed at the corner · 34″ square · 100% silk twill · Made in Japan · Dry clean