Costume and Textiles Kantha (Embroidered Quilt) Made in West Bengal, India, Asiaor Bangladesh, Asia Made in Undivided Bengal, Asia 19th century Artist/maker unknown, Bengali Cotton plain weave with cotton embroidery in back, buttonhole, chain, darning, satin, split, running, arrowhead, eye, zig zag with backstitch variation, and dot stitches Currently not on view 1994-148-709 Stella Kramrisch Collection, 1994 |
LabelAt times, the stitching on the front (the side from which the embroiderer worked) and the back of kanthas presents a mirror image, a quality called dorukha (do=two; rukh=face, direction). In general, kanthas uniquely exploit the versatility of the simple running stitch, using it to yield not only textured background effects but also to outline and fill individual motifs. Here, as in many kanthas, the patterns imitate those of the woven sari borders from which the colored threads, themselves, were pulled. |
