Turban cloth thumbnail 1
Turban cloth thumbnail 2
+5
images
Not currently on display at the V&A

Turban cloth

Turban Cloth
c.1862 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Fine muslin turban cloth is rolled diagonally or pleated before tying in bands to give a striped or zigzag effect. These multi-coloured turbans were often worn at festivals, when a special colour or design would be used.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 4 parts.

  • Textile
  • Textile
  • Textile
  • Textile
TitleTurban cloth
Materials and techniques
Tie-dyed (lahariya) cotton
Brief description
Lahariya turban cloth, cotton tie-dyed in multi-colours, probably Jaipur, c.1862; Textiles; Hats and Headwear; Accessories
Physical description
Fine muslin turban cloth is rolled diagonally or pleated before tying in bands to give a striped or zigzag effect. These multi-coloured turbans were often worn at festivals, when a special colour or design would be used.
Dimensions
  • Length: 700cm
  • Width: 20cm
Gallery label
LAHARIYA TIE-DYEING There are several methods of tie-dyeing cloth to create patterns. In lahariya (from Hindi lahar: ‘wave’), diagonal stripes, zigzags and checks are produced by wrapping material around sections of a rolled or folded cloth to resist the dye. The process is repeated for each colour. Associated with Rajasthan, lahariya is popular for festive turbans. Three turban cloths bound and dyed together Tie-dyed cotton, still tied up after its final dye-bath Rajasthan, probably Jaipur, about 1950 Given by Mrs M. Hammill V&A: IS.63B-1959 Turban cloth Tie-dyed cotton Rajasthan, probably Jaipur, about 1855 V&A: 5735A (IS) (03/10/2015-10/01/2016)
Object history
5735a and b were once joined together with a third piece to form a turban-cloth of some 15 metres in length. It was acquired in 1862 "to show various dyes and its (sic) colours", although no record of the dyes used survive. This tour-de-force of dyeing combines several different designs in the "lahariya" (wavy) and "mothara" (checked) techniques. Transferred from the India Museum in 1879. Slip book entry 2879: 'Turban Piece of various Colors / 7828 Bengal / of 1862 / To show various dyes & its colors'
Production
Rajasthan
Bibliographic references
  • Guy, John and Swallow, Deborah (eds.) Arts of India: 1550-1900. Text by Rosemary Crill, John Guy, Veronica Murphy, Susan Stronge and Deborah Swallow. London : Victoria and Albert Museum, 1990, reprinted 1999. 240 p. : ill. ISBN: 1851770224. p.128, pl.109
  • Ashmore, Sonia. "Muslin", London, V&A Publishing, 2012. pp. 78 and 118, pl. 50.
  • Tie-dyed textiles of India : tradition and trade / Veronica Murphy and Rosemary Crill. London: Victoria and Albert Museum :in association with Mapin Publishing, 1991 Number: 0944142303 pp. 90-91, cat. no. 81a, ill.
  • Crill, Rosemary, Arts of Asia, vol. 45, no. 5, September - October 2015, "The Fabric of India" Exhibition, p.69, pl. 3.
  • Swallow, D., Stronge, S., Crill, R., Koezuka, T., editor and translator, "The Art of the Indian Courts. Miniature Painting and Decorative Arts", Victoria & Albert Museum and NHK Kinki Media Plan, 1993. p. 119, cat. no. 103
Other number
2879 - India Museum Slip Book
Collection
Accession number
5735(IS)

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdSeptember 17, 2002
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest