Not on display

Cover

1800-1870 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Resist and block printed plain weave glazed cotton, probably machine woven.
The central panel has a cream ground with a central lobed oval medallion in yellow edged in white and blue containing a small 8-pointed medallion edged in blue. All parts are decorated with floral motifs. There is a lobed pendant attached top and bottom. This central composition appears to have been printed first and then three and a half blue meandering stems with exotic blossoms have been printed to fill the rest of the central panel. This is framed by two narrow borders containing white or yellow lozenges between which is a wider band [band a] with fat botehs containing floral motifs on a white ground. There are three different motifs. The botehs are surrounded by a red design of fan-like motifs. In each of the four corners there is a diagonal tear-drop medallion with flowers. There is a wide red border with a darker red pattern and white lobed cartouches containing black nastaliq inscriptions. There are four different inscriptions, repeated.
Along the top and bottom is a wider version of band [a] with the addition of a pair of small tear drops between the botehs. The botehs point towards the centre are those in the top row face the opposite direction to those in the bottom row.
The whole is framed by a series of narrow borders, the predominant one has an off-white ground with a blue meander and flower heads and leaves. This pattern is used as a band to separate the cartouche border from the outer boteh band.
Colours: two shades of red, blue, yellow, black.
There are two selvedges.
There are red registration pin marks in the central field.

Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
cotton yarn, weaving, resist printing, block printing, glazing
Brief description
printed cotton, 1850-1870, Persian
Physical description
Resist and block printed plain weave glazed cotton, probably machine woven.
The central panel has a cream ground with a central lobed oval medallion in yellow edged in white and blue containing a small 8-pointed medallion edged in blue. All parts are decorated with floral motifs. There is a lobed pendant attached top and bottom. This central composition appears to have been printed first and then three and a half blue meandering stems with exotic blossoms have been printed to fill the rest of the central panel. This is framed by two narrow borders containing white or yellow lozenges between which is a wider band [band a] with fat botehs containing floral motifs on a white ground. There are three different motifs. The botehs are surrounded by a red design of fan-like motifs. In each of the four corners there is a diagonal tear-drop medallion with flowers. There is a wide red border with a darker red pattern and white lobed cartouches containing black nastaliq inscriptions. There are four different inscriptions, repeated.
Along the top and bottom is a wider version of band [a] with the addition of a pair of small tear drops between the botehs. The botehs point towards the centre are those in the top row face the opposite direction to those in the bottom row.
The whole is framed by a series of narrow borders, the predominant one has an off-white ground with a blue meander and flower heads and leaves. This pattern is used as a band to separate the cartouche border from the outer boteh band.
Colours: two shades of red, blue, yellow, black.
There are two selvedges.
There are red registration pin marks in the central field.
Dimensions
  • Length: 250cm
  • Width: 138cm
  • Centrral decorative panel length: 158cm
  • Central decorative panel width: 75cm
Marks and inscriptions
(Inscriptions/labels: 'Jamshid' refers to a mythical king of Persia. The number of threads indicates the quality of the textile, ie. the highest quality. [a] Printed text in nastaliq, part of the decoration. [b] Towards the upper left hand corner, along the edge, is a block printed inscription in black on white and yellow. [c] In the upper left hand corner on the back is an ink inscription 'No 275'.)
Translation
O may the generosity of your table expand continuously, O the times are put to shame by the gifts of your table, Beside your table the sun is but a loaf of bread, and beside the munificence of your spread Jamshid is an eater of crumbs. Haji Muhammad Hassan Baba Rabi' One hundred exalted threads.
Object history
Purchased for 12/- from Robert Murdoch Smith, formerly part of the Richard Collection. Originally catalogued as a table cloth.
Collection
Accession number
2329-1876

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Record createdJanuary 29, 2008
Record URL
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