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Shabbir Merchant
Vintage - Chocolate Cushion - Embroidered Tapestry Wall Hanging

1960 - 1980

About the Item

Vintage In the center of Mumbai city is an unorganised labyrinthine bazaar of streets trading in commodities right from gold and silver to utensils to costume jewellery, the list is endless. My search for antique artworks took me to one of its by-lanes with nondescript kiosks buying and selling old heirloom pieces of clothing like woven borders in pure gold and silver and hand embroidered saris. One such store owned this collection of cushions meticulously hand embroidered in zardozi. The cushions are three generations old, presented as wedding gifts to the earliest. They have for obvious reasons not been used but refitted with a zipper when they were passed down. Their embroidery stitches of 'Dogh' and 'Wasli' are ancient, very old school. The techniques are laborious for the precision required. The finesse in these cushion embroideries can be seen in the shape of each petal couched in 'zari' (metallic thread.) This craft demands highly skilled artisans which are now a rarity. Care for the Vintage: These antique cushions are over five decades old. They have been preserved with meticulous care by the original owners. While the embroidery is still absolutely impeccable, age has effected the base silk fabric to weaken. There is no tear in the cushions however, they are delicate to handle. The zipper is non functional and cannot be replaced due to the fragile fabric. These are to be treated with care as antique decorative pieces to be framed and not as actual cushion covers. A note on handmade: A handmade product is always appealing due to the irregularities in its workmanship. This is what sets it apart from machine made or computerised; the perfection they offer feels synthetic or artificial. Especially when one speaks of art and craft. These wall panels are works of hand worked embroideries. Imperfections such as an occasional puckering of the base material are expected with the kind of embroidery stitches used. You are assured these artworks are embroidered by highly skilled artisans (it is not possible for craftsmen of lesser experience to create these pieces) The materials used for the embroideries are of superior quality only.
  • Creator:
    Shabbir Merchant (1973)
  • Creation Year:
    1960 - 1980
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 11 in (27.94 cm)Width: 11 in (27.94 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    Please see main description.
  • Gallery Location:
    Asheville, NC
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 0000191stDibs: LU145027688932

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