Dowry Bag Item Number: 1330/7 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Small, flat, square, embroidered, envelope-style bag, detailed with mirrors and pompoms, made by folding and stitching together three corners of a flat, square panel to form a pocket, with the fourth corner left open to serve as a flap or cover. The square-shaped embroidered motifs, formed from bars of satin stitch, are grouped together into larger squares, arranged in an X shape, and are outlined in black. Mirror-work is incorporated into the designs and along the edges of the square. The embroidery is so dense that it completely covers the background textile. The seams are embellished with decorative stitching. There are small pompoms scattered throughout the design. Two thin fibre strings are attached to the corner of the flap. The embroidery is underlined with multicoloured cotton gauze.

History Of Use

Used to carry dowry items to a wedding or given as a gift as part of a dowry.

Specific Techniques

laid work, couched; satin stitch; chain stitch; buttonhole stitch

Narrative

Purchased by Milton and Beverly Israel while traveling in India.

Item History

What

Name
Dowry Bag
Identification Number
1330/7
Type of Item
bag
Material
cotton fibre, silk fibre, glass, silver alloy metal ? and dye
Manufacturing Technique
embroidered and sewn
Overall
height 27.9 cm, width 18.3 cm, depth 1.8 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
Gujarat, India ? or Rajasthan, 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
1330/0007