A Lesson in Humility
This Pua Kumbu Sungkit (Link) that has just recently arrived to grace my life, reminded me of a personal anecdote that taught me a lesson. Years ago, I saw my … Continue reading
A Flock of Sheep in the Living Room
From the late 1800s many towns of the Kuba district were centres of production for Soumac rugs but most were produced in workshops and exhibited a certain order in the … Continue reading
What is this Figurative Weft Ikat?
Any idea? Nearly 5 metres long this textile has motifs of boats, people, animals and unrecognisable creatures. Acquired from a late Canadian collector who acquired it from the Indonesian archipelago … Continue reading
A Bird Watcher’s Delight
I’d heard of Bird Rugs ….usually associated with Afshar group of South Persia. Something like this: But now I’m seeing a Bird Shawl! This Cantonese work of art has … Continue reading
Animal Love
We all love our animals! The Qashqai weaver put hers in her rug while I had a few sweet moments with a sheep & a goat in my lap! See … Continue reading
A Sumba Queen’s Gift
The joy of the day is a Sumba Queen’s gift to her daughter And to all of us in the textile-art world. For here we are enjoying her creation from … Continue reading
The Girl with the Dragon
Can you spot her? . . . . . Isn’t she lovely? See more of this gorgeous not-for-sale antique dragon sumac rug here on WOVENSOULS – asset 1379. *** jm … 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
Waiting…. The Antique Shekarlu Qashqai Rug
For years I’ve eyed Shekarlu rugs. Their identity is highly evolved and very striking! Very rustic in character the rugs are filled with an extravagant number of minor motif elements … Continue reading
Along came a Ganjifa Set…
And took my sleep away! Why are these little artworks so attractive? Or elusive? A complete set consisting of 120 cards is very very rare! The odd card is seen … 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!
Catching Butterflies in Burslem
As a collector one is supposed to have focus and collect a particular category of objects. But as the child (that none of us completely outgrow) (i hope) I enjoyed … 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
Wearing Art – Antique Himalayan Ceremonial Silver Belt
When everything the eye sees is artistic and pleasing, where art is an intrinsic part of every object, there must be undercurrents of joy constantly hitting the people… Maybe THAT … Continue reading
Art from the Past: 17th Century Tibetan Paintings
Deities and Deomons with Tantric phurbas and dorjeys! Under study
Responsibility of Caring for an Antique Yuncu Kilim
An endearing note from the dealer who sold me this …
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
The Irony of my tiny Astrological Thangka Collection
It is ironical and even absurd that my journey in collecting Tibetan material began from being impressed by their ideology of renunciation of material wealth! The life seen in Tibet … 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
Dilemma
In principle, if all else – character, beauty, etc – is the same what would YOU prefer? OPTION A: A piece from the mid 1900s that is in good condition … 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
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
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! ❤️
Antique Silver Bullet Case – Available for Sale
Available for Sale: 394 Antique Tibetan Khampa Nomad’s Bullet Case
Daily Art Fix – Antique Burma Manuscript
Exploring an antique Buddhist manuscript from Burma, dated 1874
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 Sindh Embroidered Wedding Shawl – Available for Sale
Available for Sale – Antique Sindh Embroidered Wedding Shawl
Choosing A Wedding Dress – Swat Valley Textiles
Choosing is wedding dress can be tough – especially when each is a stunning work of textile art. Presenting a few vintage and antique bridal dresses from the Swat Valley region
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
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
Kris Hilts – Art & Collections
Every now and then in auction houses, I come across a few dozen pieces of some category coming up for sale. It seems like a whole collection is being given … Continue reading
Textile Art Events @ The Esplanade, Singapore
1. Large Displays of Indian Textile Art View two magnificent large Phad paintings and two large mesmerising mirrorwork Dhaniyo artworks from Gujarat displayed in the Foyer. Nov 9th – Nov … Continue reading
Gates of Heaven – The Darshan Dwar Phulkari Embroidery Textile
Devotional Textiles – Phulkari Baghs of Punjab
Daily Art Fix – Antique Dayak Fertility Necklace
Click to view more images on WOVENSOULS.COM Daily Art Fix – Antique Dayak Fertility Necklace jm June 2015
Auctions of Interest
Some beautiful pieces that caught my eye in the upcoming auctions: 1.Miniature Painting, Rajasthan | Treasures of Asia | Auctionata | Sept 4th, 2014 2. India, photographs – Indian textiles … Continue reading
A delightful day with a Textile Connoisseur
Textile collectors are few. And so when there is an opportunity to meet up, it is always a pleasure. And when the other collector is a connoisseur and a Guru, … Continue reading
WOVENSOULS | Antique Jewelry | Silver
This page showcases some of the old silver collectible jewelry from the Wovensouls Collection. The diversity of style and form in silver is certain to please even the mature collector. … Continue reading
Discovering Pearls
The Pearl is not new to most of us. I got to know the pearl as a child, watching others wear them and through the many ‘plastic’ pearl chains acquired … Continue reading
Tampan – the bewitching extinct weaving of Lampung
Weaving ceased in Lampung at the end of the 19th century. Ceased. Extinct. Forever. This fact would be tragic even if we were speaking of some other geography. But once … Continue reading
Wovensouls Website relaunched
The structure and layout of the wovensouls website has been changed to make the flow smoother. Recent acquisitions of antique textiles, antique jewelry and antique folk art, some of these … Continue reading
