Sainchi Phulkari
Artist/maker unknown, Punjabi
Geography:
Made in Punjab, eastern Punjab, India, Asia
Possibly made in Bhatinda, Punjab, eastern Punjab, India, Asia
Date:
20th centuryMedium:
Handspun cotton plain weave (khaddar) with silk, cotton, and wool embroidery in darning, pattern darning, buttonhole, herringbone, running, chain and Cretan stitchesDimensions:
7 feet 5 1/2 inches × 48 1/2 inches (227.3 × 123.2 cm)Curatorial Department:
Costume and TextilesObject Location:
2017-9-14Credit Line:
The Jill and Sheldon Bonovitz Phulkari Collection
Made in Punjab, eastern Punjab, India, Asia
Possibly made in Bhatinda, Punjab, eastern Punjab, India, Asia
Date:
20th centuryMedium:
Handspun cotton plain weave (khaddar) with silk, cotton, and wool embroidery in darning, pattern darning, buttonhole, herringbone, running, chain and Cretan stitchesDimensions:
7 feet 5 1/2 inches × 48 1/2 inches (227.3 × 123.2 cm)Curatorial Department:
Costume and TextilesObject Location:
Currently not on view
Accession Number:2017-9-14Credit Line:
The Jill and Sheldon Bonovitz Phulkari Collection
Social Tags
animals [x] asia [x] bhatinda [x] buttonhole [x] chain [x] chaupar [x] cotton [x] cretain [x] darning [x] embroidery [x] figural [x] flower work [x] herringbone [x] hindu [x] india [x] jewelry [x] khaddar [x] marriage [x] muslim [x] odhini [x] pakistan [x] partition [x] phulkari [x] plain weave [x] punjab [x] railroad [x] sainchi [x] shawl [x] silk [x] south asia [x] textile [x] wedding [x]The large trains embroidered on both sides of this sainchi phulkari have engines puffing thick black smoke and cars filled with passengers. The center square may be a train station or a board for playing chaupar (a popular Indian game), or perhaps both. Does the scene reflect the embroiderer’s everyday world or her dreams and imaginings? Trains, for example, were potent symbols of longing, whether for an absent husband, son, or daughter, or for a woman’s own desire for adventure.