Carrying case

Historical period(s)
20th century
Medium
Cotton fabric, mirror glass Open chain, buttonhole, and stem stitches; laid work
Dimensions
H x W: 35.5 x 24.5 cm (14 x 9 5/8 in)
Geography
India or Pakistan, Gujarat State or Sindh province, Kutch
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Edward W. M. Bryant
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Accession Number
S1991.18
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Costume and Textile
Type

Textile

Keywords
buttonhole stitch, chain stitch, couching, India, mirrorwork, Pakistan
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Label

The embroidery style known as pakko (related to pakka, literally well-done) is characterized by black outlines around filled areas of color; this bag is embroidered with silk cloth. Of interest is the avoidance of symmetry in the design as a strategy to ward off the inauspicious (nazar ne laga). The background cloth is vegetable-dye printed cloth known as ajrak, which comes from Dhamarka region in Kutch. Women carry these small bags when they go to special events such as weddings. Cardamom seeds are usually carried within the bags.

Collection Area(s)
South Asian and Himalayan Art
Web Resources
Whistler's Neighborhood
Google Cultural Institute
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