Kantha (Embroidered Quilt)

Currently not on view

Kantha (Embroidered Quilt)

Second half of 19th century

Artist/maker unknown, Bengali

At bottom right, a monstrous goddess Kali (Durga's fierce form) raises four massive arms, one blithely swinging a severed head. Her body, with a distinctive double-block torso, is outlined in red and filled with blue stitches. The corpse of the god Shiva below her feet is yellow outlined in green and an adjacent blue elephant holds a second yellow-and-green figure, perhaps the living Shiva. The top quadrant contains a triangular shrine housing a Shiva linga. Pairs of exuberant floral trees to the left and right grow in opposite directions from a floating "ground" of border motif, rather like reflections in water, although each tree is different.

Currently not on view

Object Details

Title:

Kantha (Embroidered Quilt)

Date:

Second half of 19th century

Artist:

Artist/maker unknown, Bengali

Medium:

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

Dimensions:

32 x 31 3/4 inches (81.3 x 80.6 cm)

Classification:

Textiles

Credit Line:

Stella Kramrisch Collection, 1994

Accession Number:

1994-148-687

Geography:

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

We are always open to learning more about our collections and updating the website. Does this record contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? Contact us here.

Please note that this particular artwork might not be on view when you visit. Don’t worry—we have plenty of exhibitions for you to explore.

Currently not on view