Tent hanging

Physical description

Embroidered tent hanging worked in coloured silks, and silver-gilt and silver threads on cotton. From the inner side of a tent wall (kanat). Subject of the Music Party: In the middle stands a Mogul Princess holding a flower in her left hand whilst reaching up to the branch of a flowering tree with her right hand. She looks towards two female musicians seated on rockery to the left, one of whom is an attendant bearing a tray of sweetmeats, and in the lower corners are two others with drinking utensils. In the foreground are two bucks and their does, and along the bottom is rockery. The tree which the Princess grasps spreads its branches over the upper part of the panel, and bears a variety of coloured semi-natural flowers, whilst birds perch in the branches. Above all is an ogival arch edged with leaves, and in the pendentives are devices of formal flowers on scrolling stems. Round all four sides runs a border of continuous scrolling stem motives with flowers and birds. The ground is covered with gold thread couched in basket pattern. The figures and decorative details are in satin stitch.

Place of Origin

Delhi, India (made)

Date

17th century (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Embroidered cotton in silks, and silver-gilt and silver threads

Dimensions

Height: 69 in, Width: 46 in

Descriptive line

Embroidered tent hanging worked in silks, and silver-gilt and silver threads on cotton, Delhi, 17th century

Categories

Textiles; Embroidery

Collection code

SSEA