Square Shawl Made Of Hand-painted Kalamkari Fabric—india, For Persia, Circa 1800–1850

First half of the 19th century
India for the Persian market
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Square shawl made of painted fabric, known as kalamkari, produced in India for the Persian market in the early 19th century.Very fine cotton fabric delicately printed using block printing and wax-resist techniques for the indigo dye. The finishing touches were applied with a reed pen, which gave this type of piece its name, Kalamkari. The central field features a boteh design with palmettes arranged in a staggered pattern. The piece is framed by remarkably delicate borders of stylized floral garlands. At the bottom, there is a partially truncated calligraphic stamp from the Indian artisan. No lining. These square pieces were also used in France as shawls to cover the shoulders of 19th-century ladies of style. The fabric has a few repairs visible only on the reverse side, a slight discoloration in the right-hand corner, and rare, barely noticeable specks of dirt. However, the fabric has retained its original finish. Overall good condition in terms of color and preservation. A rare piece.

Dimensions: 107 cm x 107 cm.