Ritual Cloth

This kalamkari (literally “pen work”) hand resist dyed cloth features five colours, including white, each dyed separately with the others resisted. It is a style of cloth also made in coastal villages of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, in this case the dying centre of Sri Kalahasti. Cloths such as these were used in temples as canopies and festival decorations, and were used as instructional aids by singers, poets or priests. Kalamkari was exported from south India to the Middle East and Europe with appropriate floral, “oriental” and Islamic designs, according to the market, from at least the 17th C. Archaeological investigation, particularly at Arikamedu (just south of Pondicherry), reveal that the Romans were trading for cloth on this coast from the 2nd century B.C.

Purchased by collector from Poompuhar Emporium in Chennai.

This one features many of the important iconography of Shiva, the centrepiece being Shiva and his wife Parvati seated on their bull, Nandi. Brahma, Vishnu, and other saints, demons and musicians are in attendance.

Ritual cloth made from hand resist dyed cloth in five colours. Features Shiva and his wife Pavarti seated on their bull, Nandi. Brahma, Vishnu and other saints, demons and musicians are shown in attendance.