Kalamkari temple cloth of painted cotton depicting scenes from the Ramapattabhisheka, probably made in the Madurai region of Tamil Nadu, 19th century

Brahmanical temple cloth of coarse cotton fabric painted, chiefly in red and black, with Ramayana scenes illustrating the Coronation of Rama and Sita in the city of Ayodhya, or the final incident in the Sixth Book of the Hindu epic poem The Ramayana.

Purchased from Alfred Flemming

These 8 panels of Indian cotton were originally the property of General Sir Arthur Ellis (King Edward’s Equerry) to whom they were presented by a Maharajah. Sir Arthur Ellis sold them about 1878 to the carpet dealer Vincent J Robinson, who lent them in 1880 to the South Kensington Museum, where they were exhibited in the Indian Section until 1896. [Letter from A Fleming to V&A, 415M-24 Jan 1911, A Fleming Nominal File] They were then offered by Alexander Fleming to the V&A in 1911 and purchased for £5 a piece or £40 in total. [RP 1911-517M, A Fleming Nominal File]

Purchased from Alfred Fleming (Dealer), 53 Castle Road, Southsea, Portsmouth. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project.

RP 1911- 415M

IM.26-1911