Trousers
early 20th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Woman's trousers (ezar) of amber-coloured silk satin embroidered with silk threads in chain and buttonhole stitch, and inset with mirror-glass (shishadar). Each leg is worked in the upper part with horizontal rows of spots, alternately red and blue, and white and blue. The lower part is ornamented with an upper row of triangles filled with rows of small red and brown triangles, and a lower row of stepped pyramids filled with squares enclosing white floriated crosses and red discs. The space between these motives is covered with floral sprays, vases of flowers and large and small discs. The bottom border has bands of geometrical devices, mainly zigzags, crosses and discs.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silk satin embroidered with silk threads, and inset with mirror-glass |
| Brief description | Woman's trousers (ezar) of silk satin embroidered with silk threads, Kutch, Gujarat, early 20th century. |
| Physical description | Woman's trousers (ezar) of amber-coloured silk satin embroidered with silk threads in chain and buttonhole stitch, and inset with mirror-glass (shishadar). Each leg is worked in the upper part with horizontal rows of spots, alternately red and blue, and white and blue. The lower part is ornamented with an upper row of triangles filled with rows of small red and brown triangles, and a lower row of stepped pyramids filled with squares enclosing white floriated crosses and red discs. The space between these motives is covered with floral sprays, vases of flowers and large and small discs. The bottom border has bands of geometrical devices, mainly zigzags, crosses and discs. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Lady Ratan Tata, York House, Twickenham |
| Object history | Navajbai Sett (1877- 1965), the younger daughter of Ardeshir Merwanji Sett, or Lady Ratan Tata gave the collection of her husband Sir Ratan Tata (1871- 1918) in 1920 to the V&A. The collection was distributed across the Indian Section and the then departments of architecture, ceramics, metalwork, paintings, textiles, and woodwork. Sir Ratan Tata was a great art collector, and although he collected often to decorate the several residences he had in England, India and France, he also pursued his collecting interests specifically on these trips. He was interested in Chinese and Japanese works which he acquired in the countries as well as in European paintings, ceramics, and Indian textiles and crafts. Among the items acquired in 1920 were many that were housed at Sir and Lady Tata’s residence, York House in Twickenham. When Sir Ratan Tata died, the Executors of his estate offered his collection to the Prince of Wales Museum (now the CSMVS), Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1920. It was in the same year that she gave parts of the collection to the V&A. Given by Lady Ratan Tata, York House, Twickenham. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project. R.P. 1920-6471 |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Bibliographic reference | Indian embroidery / Rosemary Crill ; photography by Richard Davis. London: V&A Publications, 1999 Number: 185177310X, 1851772944 (pbk.)
p. 91, cat. no. 81 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IM.239-1920 |
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| Record created | January 16, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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