Robe thumbnail 1
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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
South Asia Gallery, Room 41

Robe

ca. 1850 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Man's robe (choga); wool embroidered with silk. This type of elaborate embroidery originally evolved as an alternative to woven patterns of Kashmir shawls, but also came to be used on robes and sashes. Figurative embroidery such as this was done for both Sikh and Muslim patrons in the 19th Century. The figures on some embroidered robes of this type can be identified as Sikh by their distinctive beards and turbans, while other examples show scenes from Persian legend.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Wool, embroidered with silk
Brief description
Man's robe (choga); wool embroidered with silk; Lahore, Pakistan, ca.1850.
Physical description
Man's robe (choga); wool embroidered with silk. This type of elaborate embroidery originally evolved as an alternative to woven patterns of Kashmir shawls, but also came to be used on robes and sashes. Figurative embroidery such as this was done for both Sikh and Muslim patrons in the 19th Century. The figures on some embroidered robes of this type can be identified as Sikh by their distinctive beards and turbans, while other examples show scenes from Persian legend.
Dimensions
  • Length: 129cm
  • At shoulders width: 41cm
Gallery label
MAN’S ROBE Goat hair (pashmina), Woven and embroidered Kashmir c. 1855 05597 (IS) Kashmiri embroidery was originally done on shawls in imitation of woven patterns, but from about 1830 new figurative designs were developed. This robe (choga) is decorated with turbaned and bearded Sikh figures combined with Iranian winged beings (peris) and dragons. Europeans are also shown, sitting in western-style chairs. This robe may have come from the wardrobe store of the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir.(27/9/2013)
Bibliographic reference
Colours of the Indus : costume and textiles of Pakistan / Nasreen Askari and Rosemary Crill. London: Merrell Holberton in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1997 Number: 1858940443 pp. 102-103, ill. pl. 161
Other number
3779 - India Museum Slip Book
Collection
Accession number
05597(IS)

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Record createdNovember 8, 2002
Record URL
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