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Beautiful vintage Indian Kutch / Kutchi embroidered textile featuring exceptionally dense hand embroidery and traditional shisha mirror work. Measures approximately 21” x 21” (53.34 x 53.34 cm).
This striking square textile is richly decorated with colorful geometric and floral embroidery in red, yellow, purple, blue, green, orange, black and white. The design is arranged around a dramatic symmetrical 3 x 3 composition, with large round mirrors set into decorative metal surrounds and numerous smaller hand-set shisha mirrors worked throughout the central grid and outer borders.
The center medallion is especially elaborate, featuring a large mirror surrounded by a halo of smaller mirrors. Multiple hand-embroidery techniques can be seen throughout, including beautifully detailed open/netted areas, densely worked borders and intricate geometric stitching.
Traditional mirror embroidery from the Kutch region of Gujarat is also known as Shisha, Abhla or Abhala Bharat mirror work. This piece would make a wonderful addition to a collection of Indian textiles, Kutch embroidery, Gujarat folk art, tribal textiles, ethnographic textiles, shisha mirror work, antique and vintage embroidery, textile art, chakla textiles, bohemian/boho décor or handmade folk art.
The reverse is equally interesting for textile collectors and clearly shows the extensive hand stitching and construction of the piece.
Condition: Vintage condition with age and use. Mirrors and metal components show varying degrees of oxidation, darkening and surface wear. There are loose/worn threads and other age-related imperfections. The reverse has a substantial dark brown hardened/stiffened stained area of unknown origin. It has not been cleaned or treated. Please enlarge and examine all photographs, including the detailed close-ups and reverse, as they form an important part of the condition description.
Measurements:
21” × 21”
53.34 × 53.34 cm
Origin/Style: Kutch / Gujarat, India
Technique: Hand embroidery with Shisha / Abhla mirror work
Type: Square decorative textile / Chakla / Folk Art Wall Hanging
Age: Vintage; exact date unknown
A beautifully detailed piece with an extraordinary amount of handwork. The close-up photographs have been included so collectors can examine the stitching, textile weave, mirror attachments, metal surrounds, embroidery techniques and age-related characteristics in detail.
Exact maker, community/tribal attribution and date are unknown.
