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+8
images
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Tent Hanging

17th century (made)
Place of origin

Embroidered tent hanging worked in coloured silks, and silver-gilt and silver threads on cotton. From the inner side of a tent wall (kanat). Subject of the Music Party: In the middle stands a Mogul Princess holding a flower in her left hand whilst reaching up to the branch of a flowering tree with her right hand. She looks towards two female musicians seated on rockery to the left, one of whom is an attendant bearing a tray of sweetmeats, and in the lower corners are two others with drinking utensils. In the foreground are two bucks and their does, and along the bottom is rockery. The tree which the Princess grasps spreads its branches over the upper part of the panel, and bears a variety of coloured semi-natural flowers, whilst birds perch in the branches. Above all is an ogival arch edged with leaves, and in the pendentives are devices of formal flowers on scrolling stems. Round all four sides runs a border of continuous scrolling stem motives with flowers and birds. The ground is covered with gold thread couched in basket pattern. The figures and decorative details are in satin stitch.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Embroidered cotton in silks, and silver-gilt and silver threads
Brief description
Embroidered tent hanging worked in silks, and silver-gilt and silver threads on cotton, Deccan, 17th century; Textiles; Hangings
Physical description
Embroidered tent hanging worked in coloured silks, and silver-gilt and silver threads on cotton. From the inner side of a tent wall (kanat). Subject of the Music Party: In the middle stands a Mogul Princess holding a flower in her left hand whilst reaching up to the branch of a flowering tree with her right hand. She looks towards two female musicians seated on rockery to the left, one of whom is an attendant bearing a tray of sweetmeats, and in the lower corners are two others with drinking utensils. In the foreground are two bucks and their does, and along the bottom is rockery. The tree which the Princess grasps spreads its branches over the upper part of the panel, and bears a variety of coloured semi-natural flowers, whilst birds perch in the branches. Above all is an ogival arch edged with leaves, and in the pendentives are devices of formal flowers on scrolling stems. Round all four sides runs a border of continuous scrolling stem motives with flowers and birds. The ground is covered with gold thread couched in basket pattern. The figures and decorative details are in satin stitch.
Dimensions
  • Height: 69in
  • Width: 46in
Object history
1924 Register entry: 'See "Indian Art at Delhi" by Sir George Watt, Pl.54A & p.421, for illus. of a panel from the same set, which was shown at the Delhi Exh'n 1902-1903 on loan from H.H. the Nawab of Bahadur of Murshidabad, Bengal. In his report Mr C. S. Clarke suggests that "It is quite possible that they (or it - the tent) were either brought into Bengal by the Shah Jahan when he termporarily took possession of the Province about 1623, or by his son, Sultan Shuja, when appointed Gov. of Bengal in 1639.'

One of three known panels from the same set purchased in Jaipur by the collector Imre Schwaiger, the other two panels also embroidered with courtly scenes.
Bibliographic references
  • Jackson, Anna and Jaffer, Amin (eds), with Deepika Ahlawat. Maharaja : the splendour of India's royal courts. London, V&A Publishing, 2009. ISBN.9781851775736 (hbk.), ISBN.1851775730 (hbk.). Plate 129, page, 155. Tent Hanging Probably Deccan, late 17th century Cotton embroidered with silk and silver-gilt thread Victoria and Albert Museum The tent panel, depicting a garden scene from a ragamala, is one of a set that belonged to the Maratha general Raghuji Bhonsle. It was taken as a prize of war by Nawab Aliverdi Khan of Murshidabad in 1744.
  • The art of India and Pakistan, a commemorative catalogue of the exhibition held at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1947-8. Edited by Sir Leigh Ashton. London: Faber and Faber, [1950] p. 212, cat. no. 1002
  • Irwin; John, Indian Embroidery (large picture book, no. 7) London: H. M. Stationery Office, Victoria & Albert Museum, 1951 pl. 5
Collection
Accession number
IM.153-1924

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Record createdJune 25, 2009
Record URL
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