1986 Antique Heirloom Patan Patola Double Ikat Sari Fragment Elephant Parrot motif
Rare Antique Heirloom Patan Patola Double Ikat Elephant Parrot motif
I read recently that patola saris are more expensive than gold - gram for gram.. with the price rise of gold in 2025 this is no longer true but it probably was in 2024!
These patolas may no longer be as expensive as gold, but they certainly are rarer than gold!
This extremely fine example of double Ikat is a fantastic piece with 6 rows and 16 columns of animals / birds.
A total of 24 green parrots, 24 red parrots and 48 elephants with mahouts have been woven. These beautiful creatures are separated by flowers.
Note the fabulous green in the parrot and in the leaves... that shows a beautiful abrash-like fading ...
The value of a Patan Patola is directly proportional to the number and diversity of motifs used in it as this increases the complexity of the dyeing process during the creation.
Woven in India for the brides of the Palanpuri Jains, this is known as a ‘patolu’ (pl. ‘patola’). This type of woven silk was a speciality of Gujarati weavers that required that they tie and dye the warp and weft threads in patterns and then weave them together to create a pattern on both sides of the cloth.
Patolas are not uncommon but ones with this group of motifs are rare.
Estimated to be from the early 1900s or prior.
410cm x 135 cm
This spectacular piece must be described as a fragment to convey the condition. In the white sections, the silk has been corroded by the white dye. There are numerous holes and splits in the textile and it is being held together (quite well) by numerous pieces of white tape on the reverse. The fabric itself is thick and so the tape (or even the shadow of the tape) is not visible on the front. Along one edge the split was quite large and it is held together with stitches. A few large holes remain visible. [Photo available on request]. Once this rich textile is mounted on maroon backing cloth, it has the potential to outlive all of us.
A maroon silk border has been hand stitched to the perimeter a few decades ago, for reinforcement.
Fragile condition. Not faded or discolored. Holes and damage present - and yet it is miraculously complete!!
LITERATURE REFERENCE:
Examples of younger Patolas may be seen
1. On pages 14 & 27 in 'Indian Textiles' by John Gillow & Nicholas Bernard
2. Page 42-49, "Tradition and beyond, Handcrafted Indian Textiles" by Rta Kapur Chishti / Rahul Jain
3. Museum Example that is almost identical: AGNSW: Link
4. Museum Example that is almost identical: AGSA: Link
5. Museum Example : V & A : Link
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This item has spent a lifetime being used for the purpose of its creation with the original artist/user. Signs of this life lived heartily may be present on the piece in the form of stains, thread loss, loose threads, holes, tears, color run and other imperfections. Therefore the condition must be assumed to be “not” perfect. More photos of such imperfections will be provided on request.
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