Fragment thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Fragment

15th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This indigo-dyed fragment of bandhani (a dyeing technique in which patterns are formed from arrangements of resist-dyed dots) probably dates back to the 15th century and was found between the pages of a Jain manuscript of the Kalpasutra. It is certainly one of the earliest surviving examples of Indian tie-dyeing and was produced in Gujarat.


Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Tie-dyed silk
Brief description
Textile fragment of tie-dyed silk, Gujarat, possibly 15th century
Physical description
Textile fragment of tie-dyed silk. Design of lozenge shapes in yellow and orange.
Dimensions
  • Length: 22.5cm (approx.)
  • Width: 6cm (approx.)
Credit line
Given by Mrs Lena Wanters
Object history
Tie-dyed bandhani was found with several other fragments of printed and woven silk interleaving the pages of a fifteenth century Jain manuscript of the Kalpasutra. Pieces of fine silk were often used in Jain libraries to protect the precious miniature paintings in the manuscripts.
Production
Although it is impossible to tell whether this piece is contemporary with the 15th century Jain manuscript it was found in, it is certainly one of the earliest surviving examples of Indian tie-dyeing.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This indigo-dyed fragment of bandhani (a dyeing technique in which patterns are formed from arrangements of resist-dyed dots) probably dates back to the 15th century and was found between the pages of a Jain manuscript of the Kalpasutra. It is certainly one of the earliest surviving examples of Indian tie-dyeing and was produced in Gujarat.
Bibliographic reference
Tie-dyed textiles of India : tradition and trade / Veronica Murphy and Rosemary Crill. London: Victoria and Albert Museum :in association with Mapin Publishing, 1991 Number: 0944142303 p. 33, cat. no. 1
Collection
Accession number
IS.40-1972

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Record createdNovember 22, 2002
Record URL
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