Physical description

Shawl embroidered with multi-coloured wools with a pictorial map of Srinagar. The background consists of rectangles of twill-weave wool, seamed together. On this ground the embroidery has been worked in fine wools, mainly in darn-stitch, satin stitch and stem-stitch, creating on the surface the effect of a woven design. An embroidered Persian inscription is set at regular intervals round the border, and further inscriptions are scattered among the buildings.

Place of Origin

Kashmir, India (made)

Date

third quarter of 19th century (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Wool embroidered with woollen thread

Dimensions

Length: 90 in, Width: 78 in

Object history note

Registered File number 1970/3190.
Given in 1970.

Descriptive line

Embroidered wool map-shawl, Kashmir, India, third quarter of the 19th century.

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

J.B. Harley and David Woodward, eds., The History of Cartography. Volume Two, Book One. Cartography in the Traditional Islamic and South Asian Societies, University of Chicago Press, 1992, pl. 33 p. 433.

Exhibition History

(Victoria & Albert Museum Gallery 38, Exhibition Hall 03/10/2015-10/01/2016)

Labels and date

MAP SHAWL

Never intended to be worn, this 19th-century embroidery depicts the city of Srinagar in Kashmir. Lake Dal and the river Jhelum are visible, as are the main mosque, fort and many smaller buildings. Maharaja Ranbir Singh of Jammu and Kashmir, who may be the haloed figure in a boat (upper left), probably commissioned the shawl.

Map shawl
Pashmina (goat-hair) embroidered with pashmina
Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, about 1870
Gift of Mrs Estelle Fuller through the Art Fund
V&A: IS.31-1970 [03/10/2015-10/01/2016]

Materials

Wool (textile); Wool yarn

Techniques

Embroidering; Twill weave

Subjects depicted

Map; Srinagar

Categories

Accessories; Clothing; Textiles; Embroidery; Maps

Collection code

SSEA