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

This object consists of 2 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Handkerchief

c.1875 (made)
Place of origin

The city of Jais near Lucknow was renowned for exquisite jamdani work, in which designs are created by the meticulous placement of extra threads while weaving. Master weavers specialised in incorporating text that praised their patrons. The Persian poetry woven around the Prince of Wales’s heraldic badge at the centre of this handkerchief commemorates his visit to India in 1875.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Handkerchief
  • Lining
Materials and techniques
Cotton, woven with supplemental weft (jamdani)
Brief description
Handkerchief, woven cotton with supplemental weft (jamdani), Jais, c.1875; Textiles; Accessories
Physical description
Handkerchief, woven cotton with supplemental weft (jamdani). Floral design on outside border, Prince of Wales heraldic badge in centre. On other border, three words woven in blue cotton read 'JAIS, OUDH, INDIA'. Around the border a woven inscription in Persian script.
Dimensions
  • Length: 65cm
  • Width: 60cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Lent by Major Barrow 1899' (Paper label attached to object.)
  • 'JAIS OUDH INDIA' (On one border, woven in.)
  • Persian inscription woven with jamdani technique into border (The Persian inscription was translated as a poem commemorating the visit of the Prince of Wales to India in 1875. The original owner's translations were presumably returned to the owner as he requested. )
Gallery label
HANDKERCHIEF Muslin, supplementary cotton weft Jais, Uttar Pradesh c. 1875 The city of Jais near Lucknow was renowned for exquisite jamdani work, in which designs are created by the meticulous placement of extra threads while weaving. Master weavers specialised in incorporating text that praised their patrons. The Persian poetry woven around the Prince of Wales’s heraldic badge at the centre of this handkerchief commemorates his visit to India in 1875.(01/08/2017)
Object history
Object was offered on loan from Major F. Barrow in 1889, and was never collected. Handwritten note from Major Barrow reads "Constitutional Club, Northumberland Avenue, 20/8/89 / Dear Sir, I called yesterday at the Museum and was sorry to miss you. I am off to Scotland tomorrow for 5 or 6 weeks. Please keep the muslin handkerchief till then: even if you do not care to accept it as a loan for a longer period. I should like to leave it with you for two years by which time I shall be back in England for good, as shall then retire from the service. I send translations [two] of the verses on the handkerchief: please return the enclosed and [illegible] F. Barrow, Major SFC / Letters to the Club will always find me.'
Summary
The city of Jais near Lucknow was renowned for exquisite jamdani work, in which designs are created by the meticulous placement of extra threads while weaving. Master weavers specialised in incorporating text that praised their patrons. The Persian poetry woven around the Prince of Wales’s heraldic badge at the centre of this handkerchief commemorates his visit to India in 1875.
Other number
LOAN:BARROW.1 - Previous loan number
Collection
Accession number
IS.54-2002

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Record createdDecember 4, 2003
Record URL
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