Kantha
early 20th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This sitting mat is embroidered with Hindu gods and goddesses, dressed as urban Bengalis. The scenes show the goddess Devi Chandi standing on a lion fighting the demons Chanda and Munda, who were soldiers of the demon Shumbha ; Krishna playing the flute, with Radha and two attendants; Rama and Sita enthroned, with the monkey god Hanuman paying homage before them, and either Bharata or Lakshman holding a parasol and another attendant with a fly-whisk; and a goddess, probably Lakshmi the goddess of wealth, enthroned, with Kartik with his peacock and Lakshmi's vehicle the owl to her right. Two other attendants are shown beside the goddess.
The name of the maker, Srimati Basanta Kumari, is embroidered around the central roundel.
The name of the maker, Srimati Basanta Kumari, is embroidered around the central roundel.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Cotton, embroidered with cotton thread |
| Brief description | Embroidered mat (ason), squarish cotton with multi-coloured human and divine figures, animals and flowers, probably made in Khulna, Bangladesh, early 20th century |
| Physical description | A squarish cotton mat embroidered in multi-coloured cotton thread with designs of human figures, Hindu gods, animals and flowers. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Sreemati basanta Kumari Daseer ae bayashan (Embroidered, in Bengali script)
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| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Purchased with the assistance of the Luigi and Laura Dallapiccola Foundation |
| Production | Probably made in Khulna, Bangladesh |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This sitting mat is embroidered with Hindu gods and goddesses, dressed as urban Bengalis. The scenes show the goddess Devi Chandi standing on a lion fighting the demons Chanda and Munda, who were soldiers of the demon Shumbha ; Krishna playing the flute, with Radha and two attendants; Rama and Sita enthroned, with the monkey god Hanuman paying homage before them, and either Bharata or Lakshman holding a parasol and another attendant with a fly-whisk; and a goddess, probably Lakshmi the goddess of wealth, enthroned, with Kartik with his peacock and Lakshmi's vehicle the owl to her right. Two other attendants are shown beside the goddess. The name of the maker, Srimati Basanta Kumari, is embroidered around the central roundel. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.16-2008 |
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| Record created | August 29, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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