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Textile

ca. 1855 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Cachar (made)

Length of eri silk, part of a shawl, with natural colour border and part of a fringe at one end.


Object details

Categories
Clothing
Textiles
Parasol Foundation Trust Indian Textiles Cataloguing Project
India Museum
Object type
Textile
Materials and techniques
Silk, woven
Eri Silk
Woven
Brief description
Textile, part of a shawl, silk, Cachar, ca. 1855
Physical description
Length of eri silk, part of a shawl, with natural colour border and part of a fringe at one end.
Dimensions
  • Length: 170cm
  • Width: 92cm
Marks and inscriptions
'Eria Silk/Cachar/Book 560/No 569 559' (handwritten paper label, pinned to object)
Gallery label
  • ERI AND MUGA SILK Different species of silkworm produce different silks. Eri silk cannot be reeled so the fibres are spun like wool, giving the cloth a soft rather than silky surface. Eri is traditionally less prized than smoother silks. Muga silk filaments are reeled from the cocoon, and the result is smooth and shiny. This folded dhoti (waist-cloth) is still sewn up as it was when sent to the Paris Exhibition of 1855. It has not been opened since leaving India. Eri silk length Cachar, Assam, about 1855 V&A: 5513 (IS) Muga silk dhoti With weft-faced cotton bands Nagaon, Assam, about 1855 V&A: 5520 (IS) Muga silk dhoti With weft-faced cotton bands Gauhati, Assam, about 1855 V&A: 5524 (IS)(03/10/2015-10/01/2016)
Object history
Transferred from India Museum 1879.
Historical context
The complete piece would have been intended for use as a garment, clothing.
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
5513(IS)

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Record createdJune 25, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O476300/textile-unknown/
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