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

Bodice

ca. 1867 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Applied ribbon of gota, made of thin strips of flattened gold wire woven together with silk or cotton thread, is traditionally a popular form of decoration in northern India. On this bodice, it has been applied as flat strips, in zigzag patterns and as cut-out forms, with additional bands of tightly folded gota adding emphasis to the front panel and the edge of the cuffs, shown here. This type of green silk ground fabric was particularly popular in Panjab and northern Rajasthan in the nineteenth century. This blouse would be worn with a full skirt and a large head-cover to cover the head and upper body.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Woven silk, applied gold wire
Brief description
Bodice (choli), for a Hindu woman, silk, applied gold wire ribbon, Derajat, ca. 1867
Physical description
Woman's blouse (choli) of red and green silk with applied ribbon, of flattened gold wire, in stylised plant designs.
Dimensions
  • At front length: 32cm
  • Across arms, sleeve to sleeve width: 103cm
Object history
Transferred from India Museum 1879. 1880 Register Entry: '05465. DRESS - BODICE: Hindu woman's; Derajat. 6256'. Slip book entry 6256: 'Woman's suit of clothes / Derajat, Punjab / Price Rs. 5-11 / 1867 / Original nos. 892 / consist of 3 pieces.'
Historical context
Intended for use as a garment, clothing.
Subject depicted
Summary
Applied ribbon of gota, made of thin strips of flattened gold wire woven together with silk or cotton thread, is traditionally a popular form of decoration in northern India. On this bodice, it has been applied as flat strips, in zigzag patterns and as cut-out forms, with additional bands of tightly folded gota adding emphasis to the front panel and the edge of the cuffs, shown here. This type of green silk ground fabric was particularly popular in Panjab and northern Rajasthan in the nineteenth century. This blouse would be worn with a full skirt and a large head-cover to cover the head and upper body.
Bibliographic reference
Dress in detail from around the world / Rosemary Crill, Jennifer Wearden and Verity Wilson ; with contributions from Anna Jackson and Charlotte Horlyck ; photographs by Richard Davis, drawings by Leonie Davis. London: V&A Publications, 2002 Number: 1851773770 (hbk), 1851773789 (pbk) pps. 70-71
Other number
6256 - India Museum Slip Book
Collection
Accession number
05465(IS)

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Record createdJune 25, 2009
Record URL
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