Bedspread thumbnail 1
Bedspread thumbnail 2
+7
images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
South Asia Gallery, Room 41

Bedspread

17th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Bedspread of quilted cotton embroidered with yellow silk.

The field in the centre has the Judgement of Solomon, surrounded by a border of horsemen. Around this is a cartouche panel containing representations of creatures. In one corner is a headless corpse before two men in Indian costume, who are seated in a pavilion. A kneeling Indian presents the severed head. In another corner is a king enthroned wearing European dress. A woman in European costume kneels before him and behind her stands two female figures. In another corner is a group of six Europeans greeted by an Indian. In the background is a low building. In another corner is a group of Europeans on foot, followed by a horseman, before a tower. Two men in Indian costume greet them from a high window.

The inner of the three outer borders has European ships, symbols and legends. The centre of the three outer borders has a formal ornament interspersed with heraldic eagles, and the outer of the three outer borders has huntsmen in European costume, on foot and on horseback, with dogs, rabbits, birds and other animals.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Quilted cotton embroidered with silk
Brief description
Bedspread of quilted cotton embroidered with yellow silk, Bengal, 17th century
Physical description
Bedspread of quilted cotton embroidered with yellow silk.

The field in the centre has the Judgement of Solomon, surrounded by a border of horsemen. Around this is a cartouche panel containing representations of creatures. In one corner is a headless corpse before two men in Indian costume, who are seated in a pavilion. A kneeling Indian presents the severed head. In another corner is a king enthroned wearing European dress. A woman in European costume kneels before him and behind her stands two female figures. In another corner is a group of six Europeans greeted by an Indian. In the background is a low building. In another corner is a group of Europeans on foot, followed by a horseman, before a tower. Two men in Indian costume greet them from a high window.

The inner of the three outer borders has European ships, symbols and legends. The centre of the three outer borders has a formal ornament interspersed with heraldic eagles, and the outer of the three outer borders has huntsmen in European costume, on foot and on horseback, with dogs, rabbits, birds and other animals.
Dimensions
  • Length: 130in
  • Width: 114in
Gallery label
  • 2. BEDCOVER Cotton, embroidered with tussar silk and quilted Satgaon, West Bengal 1600-30 IS.6-1964 Given by the Dowager Lady Loch Large quilted bedspreads like this were intended mainly for the Portuguese market, although they became popular in England as well. They were made in Satgaon on the Hugli river, from the arrival of the Portuguese in the 1530s to their expulsion by the Mughals in 1632. The embroidery includes European decorative motifs and Christian myths. The central panel illustrates the Judgement of Solomon.(27/9/2013)
Credit line
Given by The Dowager Lady Loch
Collection
Accession number
IS.6-1964

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Record createdJune 25, 2009
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