Kantha (Embroidered Quilt)

Currently not on view

Kantha (Embroidered Quilt)

First half of 20th century

Artist/maker unknown, Bengali

Evenly spaced, spiral roundels cover a field of rich white ripples stitched in an overall box pattern, emphasized around the edges by a light grid suggesting borders. This embroiderer used a rainbow of thread colors to distinguish each roundel from its neighbors. She created further variety by randomly substituting eight outlined and filled floral forms for spirals. The undisturbed ground and uniformity of threads implies that these deviant roundels were not later repairs or additions, but played a vital role in the quilt's original design. Kanthas displaying a pattern of overall roundels seem to have been particularly popular between about 1920 and 1950.

Currently not on view

Object Details

Title:

Kantha (Embroidered Quilt)

Date:

First half of 20th century

Artist:

Artist/maker unknown, Bengali

Medium:

Cotton plain weave with cotton embroidery in back, darning, satin, running, and eye stitches

Dimensions:

70 x 48 inches (177.8 x 121.9 cm)

Classification:

Textiles

Credit Line:

The Jill and Sheldon Bonovitz Collection, 2009

Accession Number:

2009-250-19

Geography:

Made in Undivided Bengal, Asia Possibly made in Bangladesh, Asia Possibly made in West Bengal, India, Asia

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Currently not on view