Hanging Item Number: Ef422 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Yellow square with embroidered patterns. Centre has eight green, red and brown mirrored and dyed parrots which face each other in pairs. Nine large, stylized, brown flowers with many petals and mirror centres and multi-coloured sprays and cones. Cones are arranged singly or in fan shaped patterns. Brown floral pattern and sprays are repeated in a wide border, defined by an inner and outer narrow border and are banded with red, green and blue. Outer edge is bordered with multi-coloured triangles topped by tridents and there are mirrors between each triangle. White-yellow backing consists of two triangles stitched together; one rectangle has a narrow woven red edge the other in blue. Hanging loops are on each corner. Some embroidery stitches pass through the backing.
History Of Use
Wall hanging used in Hindu festival.
Iconographic Meaning
Mirror work compensates for arid desert environment, reflecting pinpoints of light which resemble shimmering water.
Cultural Context
festivals
Specific Techniques
Backing; spin unidentifiable, 2 ply and s twist. Cotton balanced plain weave 1/1 with border of contrasting red weft, cut, constructed and embroidered with buttonhole herringbone and chain stitches as well as machine stitched. Brown embroidery; spin and ply unidentifiable, silk. Yellow face; no available threads for spin and fibre identification. Cotton(?) simple plain weave 1/1, cut, unshaped, constructed and embroidered.
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
- Ef422
- Type of Item
- hanging
- Material
- cotton fibre, glass and silk fibre
- Manufacturing Technique
- spun, woven, cut, stitched, embroidered, mirrored and dyed
- Overall
- height 80.5 cm, width 82.7 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
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 1062/0003