Kamkhwab
c.1855 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A complete length of cloth in woven silk and gold thread, of the type known as 'kincob'. Varanasi, mid 19th century. This cloth was acquired by the East India Company Museum in 1855 probably came from the Paris International Exhibition of that year. The label gives the name of the cloth in contemorary spelling and and carries the name of the craftsman: KAMKHAB JUNGALAH MINAKAR by BUDHU. 'Jungalah minakar' (also written in Persian script in ink on the same label) means a creeper or 'jungle' design worked in multi-coloured and finely detailed weaving which is likened to enamelling on metal (minakar).
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Woven silk and gold thread brocade |
| Brief description | Length of kamkhwab (kincob) silk brocaded with coloured silks and gold-wrapped thread, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, c.1855 |
| Physical description | A length of woven silk with gold-wrapped thread. The all-over design is a repeating series of floral meanders, with coloured flower-heads against a gold ground. At one end there is a square green silk applied patch, embroidered with gold-wrapped thread with the words 'Kamkhab Jungalah Minakar by Budhu' in block capitals, and with ink inscriptions reading 'amal-i Budhu' [the work of Budhu] and 'jangala minakar' [tree (design) enamel work]. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label | LENGTH OF BROCADE: Silk and gold tread brocade (KINKOB) cloth with extra weft design in coloured silks.(1990) |
| Object history | Transferred from the India Museum in 1879. 1880 Register Entry: [ROOM 8. Case 60.] '0827. "KINCOB." Piece of, red ground, gold and coloured design with inscription; Benares. 3,245'. India Museum Slip book entry 3245: 'Kincob Piece / Kincob / Benares / 55 / Scarlet Silk & Gold flowers'. Swatches from the original textile appear in John Forbes Watson's Second Series of The Textile Manufactures of India (1874) vol.401-458, no.409. |
| Summary | A complete length of cloth in woven silk and gold thread, of the type known as 'kincob'. Varanasi, mid 19th century. This cloth was acquired by the East India Company Museum in 1855 probably came from the Paris International Exhibition of that year. The label gives the name of the cloth in contemorary spelling and and carries the name of the craftsman: KAMKHAB JUNGALAH MINAKAR by BUDHU. 'Jungalah minakar' (also written in Persian script in ink on the same label) means a creeper or 'jungle' design worked in multi-coloured and finely detailed weaving which is likened to enamelling on metal (minakar). |
| Bibliographic reference | Watson, J. Forbes, et al. Collection of Specimens and Illustrations of the Textile Manufactures of India. Second Series, India Museum, 1874.
'KINCOB. / Length, 5 Yds. 8 Ins.; Width, 30 Ins.; Weight, 4 lb. 5 dr. Price per Yard £6. / BENARES. / NO.409, SECOND SERIES. / "3245". |
| Other number | 3245 - India Museum Slip Book |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 0827(IS) |
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| Record created | March 20, 2008 |
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