Textile Item Number: 3199/1 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Temple cloth. Textile is block printed and dyed. Background colour is pale yellow, with dense designs in dark brown. At centre is a buffalo and the head and torso of a male. The male holds in his hands a curved sword and a floral decal. Above his back is the many-armed goddess Durga. Around this central image are repeating motifs showing fish, birds, musicians, dancers, hunters with bows, and women carrying water jugs on their heads. Edges have lines of triangles, floral motifs and chevrons.

Specific Techniques

Ferrous sulphate mordant technique used to fix the colour.

Narrative

This cloth is the first in a series (along with 3199/2-4) showing the ancient mordant dying technique from this area of India.