Shawl Item Number: Ei26 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Long rectangular shawl made of three rectangular strips of hand woven black cotton cloth machine stitched together to make one large cloth. There are stylized designs hand embroidered in darning stitch, depicting various sizes of elephant, butterfly, bird and flower-like forms in purple, white, orange and green. Decorative pulled thread open-work border at each end.

History Of Use

This shawl is representative of the woven and embroidered cloths used in Nagaland. Naga shawls have at least one common feature, they are usually three pieces of separately woven cloth sewn together. Traditionally, there was little time for the production of such cloth for market purposes, therefore, women created them for family use only. The cotton was brought into Nagaland and woven by hand on a loin loom. For the embroidery, cotton yarns are purchased in the markets. Formerly cloths of this style were used as shawls (chaddars) but are now produced for outside sale as bedspreads.

Cultural Context

everyday

Iconographic Meaning

The embroidered forms are stylized representations of elephants, birds, butterflies and flowers, the natural life abundant in the area of the Naga Hills.

Item History

What

Name
Shawl
Identification Number
Ei26
Type of Item
shawl
Material
cotton fibre and dye
Manufacturing Technique
woven, machine sewn and embroidered
Overall
height 240.8 cm, width 176.1 cm

Who

Culture
Naga
Previous Owner
Stephen Inglis
Received from
Museum of Anthropology Donations Fund (Funding source) and Stephen Inglis (Seller)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
Nagaland, India

When

Collection Date
during 1976
Ownership Date
before December 2, 1977
Acquisition Date
on December 2, 1977

Other

Item Classes
textiles
Condition
good
Accession Number
0411/0165