Figural shawls depicting numerous human and animal figures exemplify the artistic mastery of Indian weavers. The new figural genre seen on our shawl arose in about 1830. It was used mostly for sashes (patkas) and the edges of robes (chogas). The most elaborate pieces were executed in Srinagar and in the Kashmir valley such as a shawl made for Maharaja Gulab Singh in 1852 for which he is said to have paid 50,000 rupees (Susan Stronge (ed.), The Arts of the Sikh Kingdoms, London, 1999, cat.143, pp.127-129). The present lot is related to a group of figural shawls that also includes a well-known map shawl woven in Srinagar, circa 1875, now in the collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London (IS.31.1970). For a published comparable shawl, see Irwin & Hall, Indian Embroideries, 1973, plate 51, catalogue no. 114. Other examples of figural shawls and embroidered coats have sold at Christie’s, South Kensington, 10 June 2013, lot 337 and 9 October 2009, lot 586. For other figural shawls in the present sale, see lots 11 and 74.

Post Lot Text
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