1692 Rare Exceptional Vintage Orissa Odisha Gond Tribal Shawl w Yellow

SUPERB vintage shawl from the protected Dongria Kond / Gond tribe of Odisha with yellow accents

This textile is very rarely found commercially.

Rare - as the tribe is under the protection of the government and interactions with them are extremely limited. The photo of me with them was clicked under supervision. And contrary to the media stories told, the government employees that I've come across there are extremely sincere and earnest and completely believe in the work the do. So the tribe continued to live as per their old ways without external exploitation.

Commerce between the outside world and them is very limited so finding such shawls is uncommon.

Compare the shawls worn by the girls in the picture below with this particular shawl. Note the yellow bands in this shawl that make this textile exceptional within this category.

Note the use of yellow & green lines in the weaving contrasting against the undyed-white woven field

Loosely woven hand spun hand woven cotton with embroidery.

Estimated to be from 1970s

75cm x 162cm

Coarse handwoven cotton

Has stains

See all Gond Shawls on WOVENSOULS HERE

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 [Me with them about a decade ago]

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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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