Indian and Bhutanese Textiles

A Unique Collection of Old, Rare and Beautiful Sacred, Ceremonial and Ritual Artefacts for Sale


INDIA

Indian Darshan Dwar Phulkari from east Punjab

Rare 19th Century Indian Darshan Dwar Phulkari from east Punjab, embroidered silk on hand-spun loomed cotton
(145x220cm/57x86 inches)

Darshan Dwar can be translated as “the gate through which God can be seen”. Unlike other Phulkari (head covers/shawls) they are not made for a person but for a temple as an offering to thank the gods after a wish has been fulfilled (the use of golden thread symbolizes desire and abundance). This sumptuous antique embroidery depicts the local environment and narrates aspects of village life. Motifs include people, animals, birds, plants, jewellery, children’s games, and the trains that had such an impact on rural people in the second half of the 19th century. Excellent condition.

PRICE: £2,450.00 (US$4,125)



INDIA
19th Century Indian Sainchi Phulkari from east Punjab, embroidered silk on hand-spun loomed cotton
Rare 19th Century Indian Sainchi Phulkari from east Punjab,
embroidered silk on hand-spun loomed cotton (140x220cm/55x86 inches)

Sainchi Phulkari are beautifully embroidered shawls with figurative motifs, made by a family member as a head covering for special occasions such as a birth or marriage. When the embroidery work covers the whole surface, as in this example, the shawl is called a bagh, or garden, and may take as long as a year to complete.  Sainchi Phulkari portray village life and local interests and sights; in this example people going about their daily work, elephants, camels, goats, big cats, peacocks, roosters, lizards, jewellery, children’s games, and trains. They are important historic social documents as traditional handmade Phulkari ceased to be made by the 1950s. Excellent condition.

 

PRICE: £2,500.00 (US$4,125)

BHUTAN
 Bhutanese Ngosham Kira (ladies traditional dress) in cotton and silk
Handwoven Bhutanese Ngosham Kira (145x260cm)
A handwoven Bhutanese Ngosham Kira (ladies traditional dress) in cotton and silk. A stunning mid 20th Century example in excellent condition that would take about a year to complete (145x260cm/57x102 inches).
PRICE: £650.00 (US$1,072)  SOLD


INDIA

An old/antique Banjara Gala from Rajasthan, India

Antique Banjara Gala (28x30cm)
An old/antique Banjara Gala from Rajasthan, India. Embroidered in silk on a handspun and handwoven cotton ground, decorated with protective talismanic cowrie shells, with shell and lead tassels.   Collected in Jiapur in 1991. The Gala is a protective textile used by women of the nomadic Banjara tribe to cover the nape of the neck when carrying pots on their head. The cowrie-shell ornamentation is thought to deflect the evil eye (28x30cm/11x12 inches plus tassels).
PRICE £275.00 (US$454)  SOLD


INDIA

An old/antique Banjara Gala from Rajasthan, India.

 

Antique Banjara Gala (26x33cm)

 

An old/antique Banjara Gala from Rajasthan, India. Embroidered in silk on a handspun and handwoven cotton ground, decorated with protective talismanic cowrie shell borders and centre, and weighted with clusters of shell and lead tassels.  Collected in Jiapur in 1991. The Gala is a protective textile used by women of the nomadic Banjara tribe to cover the nape of the neck when carrying pots on their head. The cowrie-shell ornamentation is thought to deflect the evil eye (26x33cm/10x13 inches plus tassels).

 

PRICE £275.00 (US$454)

 


 

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