Despite their elaborate appearance, wayang kulit puppets are designed for shadow puppetry. Wayang kulit is the earliest form of puppetry in Java and is known to have been in existence since at least the 10th century, pre-dating Islamic and Indian influences on the island. It remains the most popular form of wayang performance. Kulit means […]
Bandhani textiles Gujarat, India Bandhani is a general term applied to Indian tie-dyed textiles but it is particularly associated with the fine tie-dye of Gujarat. Thousands of these tiny tie-dyed knots create a delicate puckered pattern design. Some are so fine in pattern and appearance that at first glance do not appear to be tie-dye […]
Woodcutters Jeypore. 1914. Etching. Mortimer Menpes We are about to launch Menpes Etchings, an exhibition of etchings. To join us on the 20th of August for the private view, scroll down. Mortimer Menpes (1855-1938) was a painter and printmaker who found fame in his lifetime for his depictions of South Asia, China and Japan. Born […]
A chyrpy is a robe or mantel worn over the head and shoulders of Tekke Turkmen women. Once worn widely across Turkmenistan, the chyrpy is now primarily worn for ceremonial purposes. The colour of the chyrpy reflects the status of the wearer. For example, young women wear dark blue or black chrypys, married women wear […]
Swat is a mountainous district of northern Pakistan. Traditionally, woodworkers were held in great esteem in Swat, and intricately carved motifs adorned a wide range of wooden objects; from stately mosque columns to everyday tools and utensils. The carved backrest of this low chair bears a number of motifs typically found in the Swat Valley. The small […]
Polychrome wooden sculpture, 20th century, Tamil Nadu, India We have just given this lion pride of place in the South Asia Collection. He has been relocated from the rear of the gallery to the very first display case by the entrance. Situated just below a newly installed welcome sign, our friendly lion waits to greet […]
Nagaland has a strong warrior tradition and headhunting was a significant part of its culture for many years. Strict rules surrounded the practice of headhunting. For example, heads would only be removed from the body after death. By taking the heads of their enemies Naga warriors could provide evidence of their victory, but they also believed the […]
A brand new book from the collaborative Vernacular Furniture of N-W India project, Sahaj: Vernacular Furniture of Gujarat, the first book of its kind. Co-authored by our Collection Curator, Ben Cartwright, alongside Mitraja Bais, Jay Thakkar and Samrudha Dixit. The Gujarati term Sahaj can mean either ‘inherent’ or […]
In July this year, The South Asia Collection received a donation of 142 Rabari textiles, originally from Kutch in Gujarat, North-West India. This generous donation was made by Joscelyn Blumenthal of Boulder, Colorado, USA. She told us how she came by this collection: I travelled to Gujarat in 1996 to collect textiles from Rabari people in the […]
Here, at The South Asia Collection we are big believers in the need to be continually learning about the objects in our care. Many of you will know that we are involved in the Vernacular Furniture of North-West India project, in collaboration with DICRC, CEPT University, Ahmedabad. Some of you will know that our first book Sahaj: Vernacular […]