Wearing her mother’s Bridal Haalvan Phulkari
A “haalvan” phulkari is done on very fine cotton cloth that is similar to mul mul. This is the first time I held one in my hand! All bridal textiles … Continue reading
Boundless Creativity in Motifs
Superb embroidered motifs from the North West Frontier Province region photographed from faded fragments of dress-fronts! Enjoy the feast: What thought-paths created these very aesthetically pleasing unique motifs that have … Continue reading
Confused About Classification! Silver or Silk?
In awe of an antique Benarasi Sari with real silver sari!
Come Celebrate Diwali!
Diwali, one of the most celebrated festivals of India falls on Nov 7th this year. On this night, the darkest in the lunisolar calendar, Laxmi – the Goddess of Wealth … Continue reading
Service or Sacrilege? The Dilemma of Textile Art Fragments
Have you seen these? Amazing creativity isn’t it?!! ❤️ The ones that I have are in good but not in perfect condition – usage, withering natural life of the fibre … Continue reading
Artwork of the Day
A Peacock takes a little ram for a walk! What an endearing example of folk creativity! Seen in this most-beloved AntiqueQashqai Shekarlu rug that I cannot get enough of! More … Continue reading
Art of Tunisia
The more I know, the more I realise how ignorant I am. Someone famous said something like that in a much more cogent way. Completely true for me. In the … Continue reading
Raincoats of the Fortunate – Bhutan Textiles
Destinies differ between individuals. And between people groups. In the plate of destiny granted to me, raincoats were made of plastic. In the plate of the fortunate, raincoats were works … Continue reading
A Man and His Dowry
In many parts of North Africa, at the time of the proposal the families discuss the dowry the man is willing to pay to get his bride. The dowry is … Continue reading
Butterflies of Indonesia
And just when I thought I was done with the lessons in the Fauna of lovely Indonesia, along comes another Batik that showcases the butterflies of the islands: And the … Continue reading
Come Celebrate My Birthday on WOVENSOULS
It’s my birthday in August and it is the time of year when I take stock of my life. * I review the events of the last 12 months … Continue reading
The Rare Art of Double Sided Shia Embroidery
It is said that this art is no longer practiced. I am told they come from the Swat valley neighborhood and since there are not enough such textiles these are … Continue reading
Artwork of the Day
Amazing Ethnic Art worn by a very small minority group in Guizhou China. Asset 228 on WOVENSOULS.COM Enjoy the Visual Feast!
Artwork of the Day: Mirrors of Identity
A pair of Chaakla Decorative Textiles from Gujarat with rare golden mirrors Asset 152 on WOVENSOULS.COM
‘The Fringed Shawl’ – Exhibition at Berkeley
Exhibition at Berkeley, California
Daily Art Fix – Beshir Rug with Ikat Motif
A simple little work of textile art getting its time in the morning sun! This little piece was most probably woven by Beshir nomads in Turkmenistan. With a good exchange … Continue reading
Material Pleasures
When I was young I desired a million things but had no money to buy them with. Now when I am old, I have more money but very few things … Continue reading
Daily Art Fix – Applique Art from Bharaich
View a Khanduri cloth from Bharaich from the Met
Daily Art Fix: Men with an extra Arm?
Or is it a stick? Maybe they are the sons of the weaver! Interesting motif on an antique Kazak rug.
Patan Patola Ikat Weaving – HOW?
For those who wondered how! A video interview with a masterweaver Kanaiyalalbhai who explains the process step by step. To understand the technique of weaving Patan Patola double ikats and … Continue reading
Daily Art Fix – Ramayan in the Chamba Valley
Amazing 18th century Chamba Rumaal with scenes from the Ramayan https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/72821 Sita’s Fire Test Killing Ravan – A rare depiction with the severed heads and arms Am completed WOWed … Continue reading
Daily Art Fix – Saris as Textile Art!
Seen at the Victoria & Albert museum jaina mishra Feb 2018
Silken flowers from Gujarat India
One more fabulous piece from Gujarat! At first I thought it was a print … until I read the explanatory note! ❤️ This textile is from the V & A … Continue reading
Soldiers in Silk – Guns & Roses
This mesmerising silk Amli embroidery on a square pashmina shawl is from the 1800s and depicts soldiers circling around a thriving establishment. Note the deliberately highlighted flowers (roses?) amidst the … Continue reading
Daily Art Fix – Textile Art of Gujarat – AGAIN!
I might be accused of bias as Gujarat is my home state – but since I am not the only one to be smitten by Gujarat I might be absolved … Continue reading
A Tent Hanging from India
The series on the V & A textiles continues with the printed tent hanging! Makes me think that I should pay some more attention to prints … From the … Continue reading
A Kalamkari Coverlet – Antique Indian Textiles
A visit to any museum can be exhausting and the maximum I can handle is about 1 – 2 hours of exposure. In any given hall there are always too … Continue reading
The Bridal Sari of the erstwhile Queen of Sawantwadi 1922
I’ve seen a dozen or so amazing antique zari saris but none has been as unusual as this one seen in the museum of Sawantwadi, This shalu – a zari … Continue reading
On My Coffee Table
The advantage of my nomadic life is that I forget tbe pieces strewn around the other spaces that I dwell in (and that dwell inside me….). and so I see … Continue reading
Walking the Dog
And the bird in the cage. Scene in a double sided embroidery from the early 1900s. But could well have been a snapshot from modern day Singapore! More photos of … Continue reading
The Art of War – Motifs in an Embroidery
Surely Sun Zhu meant THIS arr? More photos coming soon on WOVENSOULS.com
Encore! Wovensouls Sale at The Arts House
After the successful September Exhibition at The Arts House, we received numerous requests for an encore! So this November, we will be offering some of our beloved antique works … Continue reading
Phulkari Auction
21 Phulkaris to be auctioned globally on November 24th, 2017. VISIT THE AUCTION WEBSITE here Oct 2017 antique art, antique embroidery, antique Indian, antique Indian textiles, ANTIQUE SHAWL, … Continue reading
Negative Spaces
“Negative space, in art, is the space around and between the subject(s) of an image. Negative space may be most evident when the space around a subject, not the subject … Continue reading
Women in Art – Literally
A series of textiles with women depicted in the art! 🙂 And more The ones above are from old textiles. Here’s one from a recently made banarasi brocade … Continue reading
Hidden Gems – new sightings in old acquisitions!
In an embroidery rich in texture and motifs and age, it was easy to miss the 5th color used sparingly – it hid within the flowers – almost shy of … Continue reading
Saving Beauty
We all need something to love, something to serve, and something to save… A piece came my way that is needs some tender loving care. Besides the fact that it … Continue reading
Who doesn’t enjoy Music in the Park!
MUSIC IN THE PARK – Notes in Silk!!! Just received this beauty made in Canton a century ago! Am yet to count the number of instruments being played in this … Continue reading
“Heirlooms” – Exhibition Report
A fabulous exhibition – great reviews from the guests, stimulating conversations, free flow of adulation for the artworks and brisk movement of unforgettable pieces to new homes! If you were … Continue reading
Courtship in Silk
Daily Art Fix – motif on an amazing wearable antique cantonese shawl! ❤️
More Strength to the Camel’s Back!
Here’s a beauty that will strengthen the proverbial camel’s back …. With something so gorgeous to call his own, no last straw will ever have the strength to break his … Continue reading
A Gift for the Emperor!
A gift for the Emperor ….depicted in silk in the late 1800s. So delicious …. Feasting on the art is so soul satisfying! sigh!
Beaded Textiles from Rajasthan?!!
Just noticed the fabulous beadwork on a shawl from Rajasthan that I’ve had for awhile. Endless delights in old acquisitions… All from the WOVENSOULS collection! ❤️
Textile Pride
Here’s what you get when a country is proud of its textile culture: Very impressive PDA (Public Display of Affection)! Aug 2017 All photos from the internet
The Romance of a Dowry or Trousseau
In primary school one school teacher talked of the ‘bottom drawer’ in which a girl puts in all the things she wants to take with her to her second home. … Continue reading
From One Nomad to Another
These lovely motifs from a nomadic tent band now decorate my life And they say material things cannot make one happy!?! Am finding that a great way to start the … Continue reading
ANNOUNCEMENT: Auction of Antique Phulkaris
Auction of rare exquisite Antique Phulkari Bagh Shawls collected from India in the 1960s-1970s and now in the wovensouls collection. Follow the link to view these pieces: http://stores.ebay.com/WOVENSOULS Ends on … Continue reading
Vintage Rajasthan Tribal Textile – Available for Sale
Available for Sale – Antique Shekhawati Tribal Shawl Odhana – embroidery on coarse handwoven cotton
