First half of 20th century

Kantha (Embroidered Quilt)

Two lengths of a garment, one full and one cut in half, with their woven red selvages intact, give this kantha its distinctive linear subdivision. Playing off of this, the artist based her stitched composition on three vertical panels. Long vines run to either side of tiers filled with plants and animals. The pièce de résistance is a glorious banana plant, shown complete with ripening fruit, from which hangs an asymmetrical heart-shaped red flower, a delicacy in the region.