Early 20th Century Phulkari from Punjab

Silk and cotton embroidery done on hand loomed cotton.  

Silk embroidery on hand loomed cotton.

A simple yet sophisticated design. Silk and cotton embroidery done on hand looed cotton.  

A pure textile art. Damaged but it is still charming.

Silk embroidery on hand loomed cotton fabric.

It has some surface ware.

Fine early 20th Century hand spun indigo cotton and Trans-Sahara silk cloth.

A rare pattern embroidered in silk on a hand loomed cotton background. Punjab is known for its Phulkaris. The embroidery is done with floss silk thread on coarse handwoven cotton fabric. Geometrical patterns are usually embroidered on the Phulkaris. Phulkaris and Baghs were worn by women all-over Punjab during marriage festivals and other joyous occasions. They were embroidered by the women for their own use and use of other family members and were not for sale in the market. The most favoured color is red and its shades, because Bagh and Phulkari are used during marriage and other festivals. Red is also considered auspicious by Punjabi Hindus and Sikhs. Phulkari (Punjabi) embroidery technique from the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, literally means flower work, which was at one time used as the word for embroidery, but in time the word “Phulkari” became restricted to embroidered shawls and head scarfs. Simple and sparsely embroidered odini (head scarfs), dupatta and shawls, made for everyday use, are called Phulkaris, whereas garments that cover the entire body, made for special and ceremonial occasions like weddings and birth of a son, fully covered fabric is called Baghs ("garden") and scattered work on the fabric is called "adha bagh" (half garden). This whole work is done with white or yellow silk floss on cotton khaddarh and starts from the center on the fabric called "chashm-e-bulbul" and spreads to the whole fabric. All of our textiles are handmade and original designs, the making of which takes a lifetime to learn through communities of artisans passing knowledge and techniques from one generation to another. Bawan Bagh Phulkari textile - Wedding Shawl...

An early 20th century mini size Kurd Jaff rug Measures: 1'6" x 1'8".

A pair of pillows made from an early 20th century Persian Gabbeh kilim grey and brown stripped saddle bag.

Chinese rattan opium pillow dating to the Qing Dynasty. Dimensions: Height 11cm x Width 42cm x Depth 13.5cm.  

A rare pattern embroidered in silk on a hand loomed cotton background. Punjab is known for its Phulkaris. The embroidery is done with floss silk thread on coarse handwoven cotton fab...