The embroidery is done in herringbone stitch with 'heer' floss, a glossy silk like thread with brilliant colors. The subject if of course, Lord Ganesh and his two wives, Riddhi and Siddhi. Also depicted are, parrots, peacocks, flowers and torans. Some small round mirrors are also incorporated into the embroidery.
The piece is 20.5" X 21.5" in a pentagon shape. It is between 50 and 70 years old
The backing is a hand blocked cotton print cloth. Some of the colors have run into this backing. You can also see some indigo color runs in the front. (You can see this in a couple of photos)
General:
Gujarat, a State in North West India, which had an open land route connecting it to Central Asia, had a large number of settlers from that area. They settled in Kutch and Saurashtra regions of Gujarat and retained their traditions of embroidery, with the result that a very rich range of embroidery can be found in these areas.
The people living in this region shared a common dowry tradition. In addition to the usual gifts of jewelry and household utensils, a bride would bring to her husband's home, a large number of richly embroidered textiles, which she and the women of her family had worked on for many years. The dowry would normally consist of costumes for the bride and the groom, wall and doorway hangings for her new home and decorative coverings for their domestic animals, all intricately embroidered or appliquéd and often incorporating small mirrors.
From early childhood, a girl was trained in this craft by the older women in her family. The first stitches she learned were on a square piece of cloth, which, when folded over, became her first purse. As she grew older, she worked with her mother and grandmother to embroider quilts, pillow covers, bags, house decorations and animal coverings. Many of the embroidered pieces were made for her bridal trousseau and would signify the love for her mother and her own skill, with which she hoped to gain regard and respect from her new relatives.
To the best of my knowledge, this piece is around 50 to 70 years old.
Please see the Policies section for information on shipping.
Have any questions?
Contact the shop owner.
