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Scarf or girdle
Indian (Kashmiri)
about 1840
Object Place: Kashmir, India
Medium/Technique
Embroidered wool
Dimensions
Overall: 43.2 x 150 cm (17 x 59 1/16 in.)
Credit Line
Bequest of Estate of Dona Luisa Coomaraswamy
Accession Number1971.88
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia, Fashion and Textiles
ClassificationsCostumes
DescriptionBlack wool ground; borders densely embroidered with polychrome wool yarns. Wide end borders: figural scenes derived from Persian miniatures depicting the story of Shirin and Khusrau as told by Nizami (1175-76 A.D. (A.H. 571)); inscribed in Persian with verses from Nizami's Khamseh ("Five Poems"). Center field framed by narrow border of animals against foliate ground. Field itself unembroidered except for two European figures in slanting butas and one in archway at each shorter end. Cf. very similar pieces in VandA, ill.: Irwin, Shawls, 1955, pl. 23.
Provenance1936, loaned to the MFA; bequest from the estate of Dona Luisa Coomaraswamy to the MFA (Accession date: March 10, 1971)