Description:

 AN EMBROIDERED HANGING TEXTILE, 19TH CENTURY
North India, 19th century

Description:
Cotton ground densely embroidered with silk thread in vibrant hues of red, green, yellow, and indigo, arranged in geometric and floral motifs. The composition features repeating medallions and stylized vegetal patterns within a symmetrical framework. Likely used as a wall hanging or canopy (chandarvo), traditionally created for domestic or ceremonial display. Hemmed edges with some areas reinforced.

This richly worked hanging demonstrates the colorful textile traditions of 19th-century North India, possibly Gujarat or Rajasthan, where such textiles were integral to household rituals and celebratory decoration. The use of fine silk embroidery on cotton points to skilled workshop production. Minor staining and thread wear in areas, consistent with age and use.

Comparable examples:
A 19th-century Gujarati embroidered hanging sold at Bonhams, Islamic and Indian Art, 23 October 2019, Lot 114, for £3,187.

A related silk-embroidered canopy textile, India, 19th century, sold at Christie’s, Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds, 28 October 2021, Lot 121, for £2,750.

A large North Indian chandarvo with similar design sold at Sotheby’s, London, 27 April 2016, Lot 67, for £3,500.

Note:
These hangings were traditionally produced by women for dowries, temple offerings, or domestic festivals. The bold palette and meticulous hand-stitching exemplify the enduring vitality of regional embroidery traditions in 19th-century India.

 



Length x Width: 82 x 33cm

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May 6, 2025 1:00 PM BST
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