E5306 SOLD SUPERB Orissa Tribal Koraput Kotpad Figurative Ceremonial Shawl

Sold to a discerning Antique Art-Lover

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Superb Ceremonial Shawl from Koraput / Kotpad district

Hand loomed cotton.

Rich natural dyes.in ravishing striking colors

Note the figures acting out various scenes.

In one there are women drawing water from a hand pump and carrying it back in pots on their heads.

In the other there are men ploughing the field with their son? carrying an umbrella for the father.

Rare.

An excerpt from an article written in 2008:

"The full moon of the Paush lunar month – sometime in January – marks the start of the Hunting season and is associated with the weaving of unique dance saris and hunting shawls. On the full moon night the festivities begin, expressed in the form of food, music and dance. For the dance women wear a sari in which the draping of the lower half resembles the draping of man’s ‘dhoti’ and reaches the knees.

The next morning, the hunting troop sets out for the jungle. Women accompany the men up to the edge of the jungle. Before they set out, the men are presented with symbol of good omen – the coconut, and of course a textile – the Hunting Shawl! This shawl is embellished with motifs of fish, peacocks, crabs and other creatures."

THIS is one such hunting shawl.

Note the scenes depicted. Note also the change of direction of the birds in the field and the animals in the borders.

The tribe is small, the production is very limited and it is not possible to walk into a store and find these textiles. These can be acquired only in state or NGO sponsored exhibitions when the tribes people come out to sell a batch that has been produced over the previous few months. The weaves are sold in the metro cities 2-3 times a year direct to the handloom-loving elite of India.

This is not old - made post 2000. Acquired about 24 pieces about 15 years ago to help out the weavers. About 8 pieces remain with me.

Hunting pieces are uncommon and in a stack of 100 textiles hunting shawls are just about 4-5. These patterns are preferred mainly in pieces meant for self-consumption.

73 X 222 cm

 

[DRYCLEAN only]

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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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