Bull's Hood Item Number: 1330/10 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Highly decorated hood for a bull, formed by joining two embroidered square panels along two of their adjacent edges and rounding off the point that is thus formed. The remaining two edges of the squares are left open, forming points at the bottom of the cover. Two ovoid openings, finished with binding, are located along the top edge. The two sides of the cover are heavily embroidered with square, circular and floral motifs, in red, orange, purple, green, and white, which are embellished with many round and tear-shaped mirrors on blue background. The embroidery is underlined with red-orange heavy cotton textile.
History Of Use
Stephen Inglis noted: “In India, wandering mendicants, often begging for coins, go door to door or frequent festivals (or melas). Some of these are accompanied by a monkey, goat or bull, and often this animal is dressed up. . . Quite common are “hats,” with holes for the horns. The small size (of this piece) may be because the kind of bulls that are typically used in this way are a miniature breed, and this is partly what attracts attention.”
Specific Techniques
chain stitch; laid work, couched; square chain stitch; interlacing stitch; running stitch; buttonhole stitch; ermine filling stitch.
Narrative
Purchased by Milton and Beverly Israel while traveling in India.
Item History
- Made in India before 1988
- Collected during 1988
- Owned by Milton Israel and Beverly Israel before October 27, 1988
- Received from Milton Israel (Donor) and Beverly Israel (Donor) on October 27, 1988
What
- Name
- Bull's Hood
- Identification Number
- 1330/10
- Type of Item
- hood
- Material
- cotton fibre, silk fibre, glass, silver alloy metal ? and dye
- Manufacturing Technique
- cut, sewn and embroidered
- Overall
- height 38.0 cm, width 47.0 cm
Who
- Culture
- Indian: Northern Indian and Indian: Central Indian
- Previous Owner
- Milton Israel and Beverly Israel
- Received from
- Milton Israel (Donor) and Beverly Israel (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- India
When
- Creation Date
- before 1988
- Collection Date
- during 1988
- Ownership Date
- before October 27, 1988
- Acquisition Date
- on October 27, 1988
Other
- Item Classes
- textiles
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 1330/0010