I collect vintage clothing and have an Assuit shawl among the items here.
The name apparently derives frm the Egyptian town in which most of them
originated when they became particularly popular in the 1920s. I, too, tried
to find out what the meal is, but I don't believe I ever got an answer. I
will review my notes and see if there was any mention of the material.
Lynne

> Does anyone know of a reliable source of information on the type of
> egyptian shawl called an 'Assiut', 'Assuit', 'Asyut', 'Assyut', or even
> 'Mummy lace' shawl?  The spellings are many.  This type of shawl
> consists of a relatively open cotton net ground with thin strips of
> silver tape passed through the knots and then folded, cut and hammered
> in place.  They were popular in the 1920's and were sometimes made into
> shift dresses or even coats.  I am particularly interested in what the
> metal is.
>
> Joanne Hackett
> Associate Textile Conservator
> Indianapolis Museum of Art