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Elephant Patolu

19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This type of silk cloth is called a ‘patolu’. The design of four large elephants fills the entire length of the cloth. As far as we can judge, ‘patola’ of this type were made in Gujarat, India, exclusively for export to Indonesia. There they fulfilled a ceremonial role for their aristocratic owners. Over time people came to treasure ‘patola’ as heirlooms, revere them as sacred objects and credit them with magical powers.

The weaving technique used to create ‘patola’ is very sophisticated. Weavers tie and dye the warp and weft threads in patterns and then weave them together to create a pattern on both sides of the cloth.

Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Double ikat silk
Brief description
Ceremonial cloth (patolu), silk, double ikat, depicting two pairs of caparisoned elephants, Gujarat for the Indonesian market, 19th century
Physical description
Red and black ceremonial cloth with two pairs of caparisoned elephants.
Dimensions
  • Length: 480cm
  • Width: 100cm
  • Weighed on roller weight: 11.5kg
Gallery label
(03/10/2015-10/01/2016)
ELEPHANT PATOLA

Silk patola - ceremonial textiles made in the demanding 'double ikat' dyeing and weaving technique - were the Indian cloths most highly prized in Indonesia. This ceremonial banner, with its four large elephants, would have been highly revered. Never made for use in India itself, this type of patola was exported to the remote islands of eastern Indonesia, where most surviving examples have been collected.

Silk (double ikat weave)
Gujarat, probably Patan, 1850-1900
V&A: 1S.74-1993
Object history
Made in Gujarat for the Indonesian market
Subjects depicted
Summary
This type of silk cloth is called a ‘patolu’. The design of four large elephants fills the entire length of the cloth. As far as we can judge, ‘patola’ of this type were made in Gujarat, India, exclusively for export to Indonesia. There they fulfilled a ceremonial role for their aristocratic owners. Over time people came to treasure ‘patola’ as heirlooms, revere them as sacred objects and credit them with magical powers.

The weaving technique used to create ‘patola’ is very sophisticated. Weavers tie and dye the warp and weft threads in patterns and then weave them together to create a pattern on both sides of the cloth.
Bibliographic references
  • J. Guy, Woven Cargoes. Indian Textiles in the East, 1998, pp. 4-5.
  • Indian ikat textiles / Rosemary Crill. London: V&A Publications, 1998 Number: 1851772421 pp.54-55, pl. 41
Collection
Accession number
IS.74-1993

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Record createdFebruary 29, 2000
Record URL
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