Prayer-Shawl
ca. 1855-1879 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Prayer-shawl or 'namabali', rectangular unbleached cotton block-printed with strings of sacred texts, mainly various names of Vishnu (hence 'namabali') in a grid pattern. The borders are adorned with 'Vishnu's footprint' ('Vishnupada'). Worn by Vaishnavite devotees of both sexes during their prayers also as a wrapper by devotees. Complete piece.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Cotton, woven and printed |
| Brief description | Textile, printed cotton prayer shawl, Dhaka, ca. 1855-1879. |
| Physical description | Prayer-shawl or 'namabali', rectangular unbleached cotton block-printed with strings of sacred texts, mainly various names of Vishnu (hence 'namabali') in a grid pattern. The borders are adorned with 'Vishnu's footprint' ('Vishnupada'). Worn by Vaishnavite devotees of both sexes during their prayers also as a wrapper by devotees. Complete piece. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'Paris Universal Exhibition/Cloth sheet dyed with the names of Hindoo Gods//From district 24 Purgunnahs Bengal//Exhibited by Koomar/[start of word unclear]urendra/Krishna Bohadur' (paper label, handwritten, attached to object) |
| Object history | Transferred from India Museum 1879. |
| Historical context | Intended for use as a garment, worn during prayer. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Bibliographic reference | Arts of Bengal : the heritage of Bangladesh and eastern India : an exhibition organized by the Whitechapel Art Gallery in collaboration with the Victoria and Albert Museum : 9 November-30 December 1979, Whitechapel Art Gallery ..., 12 January-17 February 1980, Manchester City Art Gallery ... . [London]: Whitechapel Art Gallery, [1979] Number: 085488047X (pbk.) :
p.67 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 6563(IS) |
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| Record created | March 18, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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