Indian Textiles

Gujarat, Rajasthan, Sindh: a dowry quilt stitched by women over many evenings. Indian textiles also reach the northeastern hills. Ralli quilts, pieced and appliquéd by women of Sindh, Rajasthan and Gujarat for dowry, layer old cotton into bold patchwork. The historically nomadic Banjara embroider bags, dresses and chakla hangings dense with mirrors, cowries, shells and brass. From Kutch and Saurashtra come toran door hangings and ulech festival friezes, and the ghodiyu cradle cloth slung beneath a baby’s swing; kantha from Bengal is quilted in running stitch from worn saris. Naga shawls are woven on back-strap looms in red, black and white bands, and patu shawls in thick handspun wool.

Faded indigo, madder red and mirrorwork glinting under a lamp. A ralli quilt over a sofa back, a toran above a doorway, a chakla in a bathroom niche: color and handwork, hung.