Not on display

Brocade

ca. 1880 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Brocade is a rich silk fabric with patterns in gold and silver thread. This piece has a conventional floral and cone pattern in gold and crimson on a green silk background.

Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silk brocade with gold thread
Brief description
Silk brocade textile, Varanasi, 19th Century.
Physical description
Brocade is a rich silk fabric with patterns in gold and silver thread. This piece has a conventional floral and cone pattern in gold and crimson on a green silk background.
Dimensions
  • Width: 29in
  • Length: 92in
Fragment of textile
Object history
Brocade silk is obtained by the interweaving of coloured silk and gold or silver threads. Silk is described as a fibrous substance produced by silk worms in the form of a cocoon or covering within which the creature is enclosed and protected during the period of its transformation. The silk is cultivated and woven into textiles on a loom. To create color vegetable dyes were used to create color. Today, chemical dyes have gained popularity as they are cheaper, less time-consuming and produce a larger variety of colours. Associated with ceremonial rites of ancient India, silk has been a highly revered fabric. It continues to be a popular and widely used material.
Collection
Accession number
IS.123-1883

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Record createdMarch 20, 2003
Record URL
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