Hanging Item Number: Ef427 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Hanging consisting of a narrow, horizontal bead-worked rectangle with nine pentagonal beadwork leaves along the bottom edge. Background of opaque white beads with patterns in translucent green, red, blue and yellow beads. Rectangle has a diamond shaped foliage design alternating with a bird. The hangings alternate with patterns of a peacock and diamonds with a cow and tree; central design is a stylized human figure. Each leaf is bordered on four sides with one row of red beads and has three tassels of four bead loops in varying colours. The rectangle is backed with red textile and has five hanging loops stitched to the top edge. Beadwork attached to backing with overcast and running stitches.
History Of Use
Hanging for a door lintel, used in Hindu homes for religious and auspicious occasions.
Specific Techniques
Beadwork: probably worked from narrow end with a needle, and single element linked to itself between beads on the preceding row(?); leaves probably worked separately by linking to the bottom row of the rectangle(?) uncut, unconstructed. Beading thread: spin and ply unidentifiable, synthetic fibre per microscope (40 x 100), slide filed. Backing: spin and ply unidentifiable, acetate-like fibre per microscope (40 x 100), slide filed. Simple plain weave 1/1, dyed, cut and unstructured. Hanging loops: spin and ply unidentifiable, acetate-like fibre per microscope (40 x 100), slide filed. Machine-made round cord, dyed cut, constructed.
Iconographic Meaning
The peacock is a symbol of beauty and immortality: the cow is a symbol of prosperity and abundance. Vishnu, the four-armed god, is the preserver of the world.
Cultural Context
festivals
Item History
- Made in Gujarat, India between 1890 and 1920
- Owned by Milton Israel before November 12, 1985
- Received from Milton Israel (Donor) on November 12, 1985
What
- Name
- Hanging
- Identification Number
- Ef427
- Type of Item
- hanging
- Material
- synthetic fibre, cellulose and glass
- Manufacturing Technique
- bead-worked, woven, stitched and cut
- Overall
- height 20.3 cm, width 84.2 cm, depth 1.0 cm
Who
- Culture
- Indian: Northern Indian and Indian: Central Indian
- Previous Owner
- Milton Israel
- Received from
- Milton Israel (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Gujarat, India
When
- Creation Date
- between 1890 and 1920
- Ownership Date
- before November 12, 1985
- Acquisition Date
- on November 12, 1985
Other
- Item Classes
- textiles; beadwork
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 1062/0008