The Nayanar Saints – Exploration through Art
Who expected to be learning history through art? And what will we do with learning all this history? I didn’t ever think it was important to know what other did … Continue reading
There’s Gold Plated Hotels and then there’s Antique Gold….
WoW! Promotional messages in my mailbox rarely get opened. But when a Gold Plated Hotel came up I was curious. I could imagine only a few places on earth where … Continue reading
Why paint on Yak Bone? A Himalayan Buddhist Thangka
Devotional Art comes in many forms in the Buddhist Himalayas. Thangkas are the most commonly known artworks and can be found on paper, cloth and walls in large display-worthy sizes. … Continue reading
Museum Walk – Asian Art Museum
An ambitious name that includes all of Asia. I wonder if they knew what they were getting into when they started … For Asia is the home of diversity and … Continue reading
A Weaving from Sumba
Coming across local names of textiles makes me realise that the 5.5 languages I know are totally inadequate. I should have learnt them all. For, every word, is descriptive and … Continue reading
Daily Art Fix – Stars in her EYES
“Stars in her eyes” – A bridal scarf from the Yao group. The textile is not old but has been made by an old experienced hand! Frame it / hang … Continue reading
Veneration of Human Spirit – Jain Painting
Heroic act spellbind us. And spur us on to do more, to push ourselves a little bit more and to give life the very best of ourselves. In Bombay, there … Continue reading
Fine Embroidery on Indigo from the Yao Hilltribes
Collected from the source a decade ago, these lovely vintage embroidered indigo costumes of the Yao people are currently on offer as a single lot at a discounted launch price … Continue reading
Rare Antique Company School Mica Paintings
In the early-mid 1800s Mica paintings were produced as souvenirs in Murshidabad, Patna and Benares in eastern India and Trichinopoly in South India. They imitated paintings on glass. Mica, a transparent … 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
Wealth of Ladakh
Photos of photo prints of women wearing traditional jewelry at festivals. The magnificentv Petak headdress has been discussed earlier. But the others have not received enough attention! Here are sone … Continue reading
Manila Manton Shawls – Early Global Textiles
Presenting a small online exhibition of palimpsest textiles – with layers of art, craft and culture contained within: The Canton Shawl aka Manila Manton aka Fringed Flapper Shawl
Sentinels & Thresholds
The threshold is a very important line in a traditional Indian home. It is washed and decorated beautifully every day with auspicious symbols drawn in powder by the woman of … Continue reading
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
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
Connecting the Dots of Gold
In the past, gold jewelry with motifs created by arranging tiny granules of gold was popular in some parts of India. Ancient Greeks used the granulation process too but the … Continue reading
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
Custodians of Antique Art
“We are only the ‘temporary’ custodians of these antique artworks that lived before us and will live on much after we are gone.” A nice quote to remind myself of … Continue reading
Daily Art Fix -Sindh Dowry Embroidery
Bless the woman who made this!! A great way to start my day …. with a dose of beauty – gives the heart a small positive kickstart! Sept 2017
Tales the Phra Malai Thai Manuscripts tell!
It will be years before I will be able to understand all the stories contained in the few Phra Malai manuscripts that I’ve seen! Some are stories from the life … 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! ❤️
Architectural Art to take home – Prints
Too often I want to take home the architecture or stone carvings or the fabulous mammoth statues! That is simply not possible for many many reasons. But we can take … Continue reading
An Antique Selfie
Embroidered picture of a woman doing embroidery!! And the millenials thought they were the ones to invent selfies!! From an early 1900s shawl. More about that later… 😊
Life in the Years / Years in the Life
“It’s not the years in the life that matter – it is the life in the years that count”
Astrological Calendars – 5 – Thai Calendar
In Thailand, as in most of Asia, the lunar calendar contains twelve or thirteen months in a year, with 15 waxing moon and 14 or 15 waning moon days in … Continue reading
Antique Batik Toraja Ceremonial Textile Artwork – Available for Sale
Available for Sale: Antique Toraja Batik Ceremonial Textile
Antique Balinese Lontar Beaded Basket – Available for Sale
Available for sale: ANtique Balinese Ceremonial Lontar Beaded Basket
Vintage Rajasthan Tribal Textile – Available for Sale
Available for Sale – Antique Shekhawati Tribal Shawl Odhana – embroidery on coarse handwoven cotton
Vintage Laotian Textile Art – Available for Sale
Available for Sale: Vintage Laotian Textile
Antique Cheriyal Painted Scroll – Art for Oral Traditions
In South Indian Paintings – A catalogue of the British Museum collection, A. L. Dallaiccola notes “Although in the past the majority of Indian people might have been illiterate, they … Continue reading
Antique Sindh Embroidered Wedding Shawl – Available for Sale
Available for Sale – Antique Sindh Embroidered Wedding Shawl
External Article: In the Shade of the Royal Umbrella
An external link to start the week with! Link May 2017
Antique Tantric Phurba Carving – Available for Sale
Fourteen little pieces strung together in a necklace. Not an ordinary necklace but one that was used in rituals by tantric priests. Each is a Phurba made of Yak bone … Continue reading
Dragons and Serpents from Laos – Textile Art
According to Lao mythology the Naga are the protectors of the Lao state and it is quite natural that they are found in all the forms of art practiced there. … Continue reading
Old Silver Opium Hafeem Box – Available for Sale
Available for Sale: Old Silver Opium Box
Old Tribal Beaded Hair Ornaments for a Child – Available for Sale
Handmade Beaded Hair ornaments for a child. How are these worn? These are fastened to the hair at the level of the eyes – somewhat like blinkers perhaps? Here is … Continue reading
Art for Our Pets
Do we love our pets enough to make such lovely things for them? Banjara Bullock Horn Covers See more on wovensouls.com Am sure handsome young Simba wouldn’t mind one more … Continue reading
Rise of the Phoenix – Antique Silk Batik Shawl – Available for Sale
Or is it an enormous bee? This style of hand drawn batik (on silk) was created in Java for the Balinese market. This piece is in such a lovely condition … Continue reading
Art of Africa – Kente Cloth – Available for Sale
A piece in a museum store priced at US$4000 (only) caught my eye. Such a high valuation piqued my interest and I began reading. The palimpsest of Kente cloths is … Continue reading
Daily Art Fix – Lontar Baskets
“There is no limit to creativity” – these cliched words come alive with these palm leaf baskets that have been decorated with beads … When the first artist created this … Continue reading
Picking a Bone …
Picking a bone …. Not exactly any bone. But a Kapala bone. A bone from the skull of a deceased Buddhist Lamaji. Under the assumption that his wisdom and powers … Continue reading
A Mother’s Labor of Love – Kohistani Baby’s Cap
In other places mothers-to-be and grandmas-to-be knit booties and mittens for the expected new arrivals. In Kohistan they make a cap. Such amazing work can only be born as a … Continue reading
Daily Art Fix – Ceremonial Sumatra Weaving
A stunning festive weaving from pre-1900 Sumatra
INVITATION – Antique Indian Textile Art @ The Esplanade Theatres on the Bay, Singapore
BAZAR: SAT & SUN 21st, 22nd, 28th, 29th November 4pm-8pm A mini-exhibition will showcase some textile masterpieces from the past. Some pieces from the wovensouls collection will also be available … Continue reading
Antique Buddhist Butter Art Pattern Manuscript – Mongolia
As I open the packet of manuscript folios from Mongolia, the scent of the monastery infused into the centuries-old paper hits me before the vision does. Manuscripts, most often contain … Continue reading
The Art of Spirituality
In my childhood I had heard my grandma say that there are four stages in one’s life a. The Stage of Bacherlorhood – a life of study, a life of … Continue reading
Asia Travelogues Coming Soon
The Wealth of South Asia – Islands, Sun & Sea Vietnam: Caving in Vietnam Vietnam: Just what were you thinking? Guerilla Jungles & Tunnels Vietnam: The Tale of a Refugee … Continue reading
A Glimpse of Heaven | Antique Yao Paintings
Imagine a small community of two million people spread across a few thousand kilometers, living a life that straddles two radically different worlds – the life of their ancestors and … Continue reading
Doubt & Hope | The Saga of Antique Yao Paintings
Ever had the dreaded feeling that some precious thing was lost forever? I’d been living with that feeling for over a year now! After the ‘Vanishing Cultures’ Exhibition [click to … Continue reading
Photographing the Spirit
The Difficulty of capturing the spirit of glossy Silk in a photograph
Javanese Batik Wood Art
Java. With a lifestyle culture that looked unique even in a short first glimpse. I visited Yogyakarta / Borobudur a few years ago. And in the short stop … Continue reading
People: Edward Gerber
As I roam the auctions galleries, one name has been appearing consistently associated with the auction lots that strike me. Edward Gerber. It is with sadness that I read the … Continue reading
Motif & Meaning in Textiles – 1 Preface
A part of my fascination with traditional textiles emanates from the stories hidden within them. The cultural aspects – who wore them, for what occasion, who made them and how … Continue reading
Wovensouls ‘Vanishing Cultures’ Exhibition Highlights | Antique Banarasi Saris
These two complete bridal Banarasi saris (fragment) from the very early 20th century have been woven with Zari or golden thread that has precious metal content. More details on Wovensouls.com … Continue reading
