Cover Item Number: Ef423 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Embroidered green silk square. Circular embroidered pink and purple centre pattern resembling a fanning peacock tail with mirrors framed by multi-coloured embroidered borders. Center is framed by several embroidered square borders, mostly in yellow, white, black and dark red, with circles and mirrors. Outer borders on orange silk ground. Embroidered with untwisted silk(?). Multi-coloured tassels hang off edges, each with two cowrie shells and two red beads. Two yellow chain stitch borders and square border between are incomplete. White-yellow cotton back.
History Of Use
Covers for food containers, wall hangings and other decorative household items are carried by a bride to her new home in an embroidered dowry bag edged with tassels and cowrie shells.
Specific Techniques
The chain and lace-like embroidery may be arhi bharat, which is worked with an awl with tread from below, creating a line of loops. Embroidery stitches used chain, interlacing, buttonhole, and herringbone.
Cultural Context
decoration
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
- Cover
- Identification Number
- Ef423
- Type of Item
- cover
- Material
- silver alloy metal, cotton fibre, silk fibre, shell, glass and dye
- Manufacturing Technique
- woven, cut, embroidered and stitched
- Overall
- height 41.5 cm, width 40.0 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
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 1062/0004