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Handkerchief

Handkerchief

  • Place of origin:

    Pulicat, India (made)

  • Date:

    18th century (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Painted and dyed cotton chintz, linen thread

  • Credit Line:

    Given by G. P. Baker

  • Museum number:

    IS.166-1950

  • Gallery location:

    In Storage

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Handkerchiefs were an important export item from India in the 18th and early 19th centuries, but very few survive as they were inexpensive and generally used to destruction. Silk and cotton tie-dyed bandannas (from Hindi bandhna, to tie), printed silk and cotton types and woven cotton and silk examples were all popular. Pulicat on the Coromandel Coast was known for its woven handkerchiefs, and it is quite likely that chintz examples like this one were also made there. This type of sprigged floral patttern was particularly popular in France, where imitations called paillaca were made in the mid-18th century.

Physical description

Reversible handkerchief of painted and dyed cotton chintz, and with red and blue sprigs on a white ground. On each side there is a design with a cluster of flowers in the centre and in each corner. The field is filled with a repeating pattern of flower sprigs. The border is a running meander of flowers and foliage interspersed with birds. All four edges are hemmed. In one corner there are two initials (one is the letter P) worked in overcasting with white linen thread.

Place of Origin

Pulicat, India (made)

Date

18th century (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Painted and dyed cotton chintz, linen thread

Dimensions

Height: 87 cm, Width: 88 cm, Height: 34.25 in, Width: 34.625 in, Length: 5.25 in repeat, Length: 14 cm repeat, Width: 6.25 in repeat, Width: 16 cm repeat

Object history note

Given by G.P.Baker

Descriptive line

Reversible handkerchief of painted and dyed cotton chintz, Pulicat, 18th century

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

J.Irwin and K.Brett, Origins of Chintz, London, 1970, cat.no.101, plate 95. Swallow, Deborah and John Guy eds. Arts of India: 1550-1900. text by Rosemary Crill, John Guy, Veronica Murphy, Susan Stronge and Deborah Swallow. London : V&A Publications, 1990. 240 p., ill. ISBN 1851770224, p.170, pl.148.

Subjects depicted

Floral pattern

Categories

Textiles; Accessories

Collection code

SSEA

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Qr_O16047
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