19th century

Kantha (Embroidered Quilt)

At 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.