Man's Robe (Jama) thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Man's Robe (Jama)

c.1855 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Bharatpur (worn)

This man's robe is of the type called a jama, which crosses over the chest and fastens at the side. This example is exceptional in the amount of cloth used for its gathered skirt: it has a circumference at the hem of 65 metres of cloth, and the skirt is made up of 277 triangular panels. It was given to the India Museum (which was amalgamated into the South Kensington Museum, later the V&A) by the Maharaja of Bharatpur in Rajasthan in 1855.


Object details

Category
India Museum
Object type
Man's robe (jama)
Materials and techniques
Cotton
Brief description
White cotton jama with full skirt
Physical description
This white cotton robe has a skirt made up of 277 triangular panels. It is tied at the left side of the chest, which traditionally denotes a Hindu wearer.
Dimensions
  • Circumference: 65m
Object history
Transferred from the India Museum in 1879. Slip book entry 3753: 'Coat of White Muslin & pair of kincob Trowsers / Coortee & Pyjamas / Birtpore / 55 / Used for Ceremonial purposes.'
Production
Acquired in the Rajasthani state of Bharatpur in 1855.
Summary
This man's robe is of the type called a jama, which crosses over the chest and fastens at the side. This example is exceptional in the amount of cloth used for its gathered skirt: it has a circumference at the hem of 65 metres of cloth, and the skirt is made up of 277 triangular panels. It was given to the India Museum (which was amalgamated into the South Kensington Museum, later the V&A) by the Maharaja of Bharatpur in Rajasthan in 1855.
Associated object
05598(IS) (Ensemble)
Bibliographic references
  • Jackson, Anna and Jaffer, Amin (eds), with Deepika Ahlawat. Maharaja : the splendour of India's royal courts. London, V&A Publishing, 2009. ISBN.9781851775736 (hbk.), ISBN.1851775730 (hbk.). Plate 133, page 159.
  • Ashmore, Sonia. "Muslin", London, V&A Publishing, 2012. p. 76, p. 88, pl. 14.
Other number
3753 - India Museum Slip Book
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
05567(IS)

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Record createdFebruary 9, 2005
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O109190/mans-robe-jama-unknown/
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