If We Could Go Back in Time…
If we could go back in time, WHERE would you go? And to which era? This is a great question to ask but a terribly difficult one to answer! Because … Continue reading
Textiles in Jain Paintings
A glimpse of Antique Indian Textiles from Jain Kalpasutra manuscript paintings from Gujarat. Were these textiles printed? Were these woven? Were these embroideries? Are there any surviving examples of textiles … Continue reading
Look What They’re Wearing! Textiles from Temple Murals
One lazy afternoon in a small coastal town in Sri Lanka that I was staying in for 2 weeks. One afternoon, out of sense of ‘not much else to do’ … Continue reading
Places with Soul
Art for the Soul. The brilliant aura of such architectural art masterpieces seeps into one’s soul in such a permanent way that nothing can dull the lustre. EVER. So “Surround … Continue reading
Textile Art in the Colombo National Museum
“The pursuit of beauty shall save us all” There are a dozen different things we could pursue.. but this one is probably the most joyous and least stressful of them … Continue reading
Staircase to Heaven – The Dambulla Cave Temple
Exploring the Dambulla Cave Temple in Sri Lanka
Comb Art – Carved Masterpieces
A photo essay featuring artefacts from the Colombo National Museum
Flags of Sri Lanka
Many ancient Sri Lankan kingdoms had distinct flags featuring: Here are images of the collection of ancient flags from the Colombo National Museum: Note that almost all are monochromatic using … Continue reading
A Buginese Wedding in Sulawesi
A Buginese Wedding celebration… Sulawesi, 2024
Story in a Fragment
On a trip to Toraja (Indonesia) last year I collected a boxful of Indian trade textiles in fragmentary condition. Now that I look back at that serendipitous encounter with that … Continue reading
A Little Surprise in an Ersari Rug
My pattern of buying is probably less structured than that followed by most collectors. I put the cart before the horse … and the eyes decide for me. Once the … Continue reading
Mahakumbh – My Last Day
Last Day What actually happens at the Kumbh mela? I knew about the legend of the churning of the oceans – Sagar Manthan. The fight between the Devatas and the … Continue reading
Mahakumbh – Day 3 / Exhilaration
Day 3 – Experiencing the amazing atmosphere of exhilaration at the maha kumbh.
Mahakumbh – Day 2 / The Sadhus
Maha kumbh Day 2 – first interaction with Sadhus & Saints
The Maha Kumbh – 400 million people & me
Maha Kumbh mela with WOVENSOULS
Wovensouls Shawl Auction on Liveauctioneers
THE CATALOG OF 60 SHAWLS INCLUDES Dense Phulkari Baghs Figurative Manila Mantons Rare Bakhnougs Complex Laotian Wraps Stunning Rajasthan Odhanas & Exquisite Kashmiri Pashminas This is a small auction – … Continue reading
The Allure of Dragon Soumacs
The most fascinating group of antique rugs for me? Dragon Soumacs & Shekarlu rugs. What is it that attracts me to these? Maybe it is the wild creative spirit that … Continue reading
How do you know it’s old?
This question comes to me very often. And articulating the answer with mere words is not easy. In the scientific method, we can all only resort to deductive logic to … Continue reading
How do I select Ikats?
How do I decide which Ikats make it to the WOVENSOULS collection and which ones don’t? One important factor I consider is the PRECISION visible. In some the line that … Continue reading
Art in Architecture / Toraja
All old cultures have developed their own aesthetic identity over time. There is a certain preference for colors and shapes and materials. And over time the designs that develop come … Continue reading
