Cotton. Bangladesch 19th to early 20th cent.
Size 142 x 95 cm
Kanthas are composed of several stacked layers of used white dhotis or saris, which are stitched together principally with white thread. Designs are usually outlined in one color (mostly black) and then filled out in another color. Motifs are animals, flowers, scenes from rural life. The representative kantha is an especially lovely, large piece with houses and figures that are contoured but not fully stitched out. In the center is an eight-leafed flower with circles and wavy lines formed the edge; in between on a white background one sees riders, horses with various carts, pet animals, peacocks, people, some in stylized houses – a colorful picture of rural life . Kanthas are produced in Bengal. The present piece comes from East Bengal, present day Bangladesh.
Expertise: Dr. Christof Riccabona
Lit: Atlas der Textilien (John Gilow, Bryan Sentance) Haupt, 1999; Masterpieces of Indian Folk and .. , K.C. Aryan, 2005.
From a Viennese private collection.