Cover
19th century
Description
This quilted cover is an example of qalamkari (“pen-work”), a traditional technique of decorating cotton with dyes. The design features a central medallion on a red field patterned with butahs in off-set repeat. The central medallion and quarter medallions in the corners combine birds, blossoms, leaves, and knot patterns. Two wide borders contain running floral scrolls; and multiple guard stripes hold small floral motifs. The design employs the traditional four colors (black, red, blue, and yellow) and has been created by block printing and wax resist.
Dimensions
89 x 124 cm (35 1/16 x 48 13/16 in.)
Provenance
Mark and Ruth Irwin, Wooster, Ohio (by 1965 - 1998), by descent; to Beth Irwin Lewis, Oberlin, Ohio (1998 - 2015), gift; to the Harvard Art Museums, 2015.
Related Artworks
View MoreWarp-faced satin foundaton with continuous and discontinuous patterning wefts
19th centuryCentral AsianBook of swatches mounted on paper (56 sheets)
19th-20th centuryJapaneseWool
19th centuryWool pile
19th centuryPersianSatin with designs in slit tapestry weave (“kesi”)
19th centuryChineseVegetable-dyed banana fiber, plain weave
18th-19th centuryJapaneseBook of swatches mounted on paper (56 sheets)
19th-20th centuryJapaneseGolden beige silk damask
17th-20th centuryChineseCombined textiles: ikat (probably Khiva, silk warp and cotton weft); broadcloth (Russia or Britain, wool, with silk thread embroidery in chain stitch); printed cottons (Bukhara and Russia) and pattern-woven cottons.
19th-20th centuryUzbek