Textile thumbnail 1
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Not currently on display at the V&A

Textile

19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
India (made)

Textile of embroidered plain-woven muslin. With a design of leafy sprays and chevron borders made up of large beetle wings, with one wing-case representing a leaf. The design is outlined with couched gold wire.

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Object details

Categories
Textiles
Clothing
Embroidery
Object type
Textile
Materials and techniques
Embroidered plain-woven muslin, beetle wings, couched gold wire
Brief description
Textile of embroidered plain-woven muslin and beetle wings, possibly made in India, 19th century
Physical description
Textile of embroidered plain-woven muslin. With a design of leafy sprays and chevron borders made up of large beetle wings, with one wing-case representing a leaf. The design is outlined with couched gold wire.
Dimensions
  • Length: 117cm
  • Width: 33cm (maximum)
Gallery label
EMBELLISHMENT Both natural and man-made products are used to decorate textiles in India. Mirror-work (associated with western India and Pakistan) is perhaps the best known. Embroiderers also sew the wing-cases of ‘jewel beetles’ (Buprestidae) on to fabric to dazzling effect. European glass beads are used to embellish garments and household objects, while minerals such as mica can be ground up and printed with adhesive onto fabric. Mica-printed jacket Cotton, mirror-work and adhesive-printed mica powder Satara, Maharashtra, about 1855 V&A: 6558 (IS) Mirror-work choli (bodice) Cotton embroidered with silk and mirror-work Kutch, Gujarat, about 1900 Given by Mrs A.R. Ditmas. V&A: IS.55-1957 Hat Cotton with glass beads Chennai, Tamil Nadu, about 1855 V&A: 0345 (IS) Border for a dress Cotton muslin with beetle wing-cases and gilded silver Possibly Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh/Telangana, about 1850 Given by Mrs Mary Gordon. V&A: IS.486-1992(03/10/2015-10/01/2016)
Credit line
Given by Mrs Mary Gordon
Bibliographic references
  • Ashmore, Sonia. "Muslin", London, V&A Publishing, 2012. pp. 78 and 124, pl. 56.
  • Crill, Rosemary, Arts of Asia, vol. 45, no. 5, "The Fabric of India" Exhibition, September - October 2015, p.68, pl. 1.
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
IS.468-1992

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Record createdJune 25, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O472197/textile-unknown/
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