Ceremonial Panel Item Number: 1559/1 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Rectangular, embroidered, and appliquéd textile panel, decorated with square mirrors. Panel edged with closely-spaced cowrie shells on three sides; the top edge has three black fibre ties, evenly space along the edge. Bottom edge has three ‘tassels’ made of clusters of cowrie shells and metal beads (cylindrical and bell-shaped). Six large square mirrors and several small square mirrors, worked on a bright pink and orange background, and in the centre of the panel, are surrounded by a border of small square mirrors. The panel is lined with red and tan resist-dyed textile.
Panels like this one have many uses, e.g., wedding water-pot cover, ritual table cover, etc. The presence of ties along one edge suggests that this panel had a specific use. A ceremonial panel is sometimes called a dhavalo cloth, with reference to the dhavalo songs, prayers and vows of mourning traditionally undertaken by a new bride.
ceremonial
Purchased on the street in Gujarat.
The use of cowry shells (a form of wealth) as decoration is an indicator of the panel’s importance as a ritual object.