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Religious subjects were frequently featured on these
rumals
, often drawn from the epics of the
Ramayana
and
Mahabharata
. The most popular appear to be
depictions of Krishna. Much loved amongst the
pastoral communities residing in these parts of
Himachal Pradesh, portrayals of Krishna with Radha
or the
gopis
is a recurrent theme.
The present and the following lot, depict
interpretations of the
Ras Lila
. Krishna is the central
figure in this
rumal
, bounded by a circle of delicate
pink flowers, an offering to the god. In a circular
pattern are five
gopis
, each paired with her “own”
dancing Krishna. Krishna is believed to have had
the ability to replicate himself so that each woman
thought she was dancing alone with him.
The unique present lot is one of the few known
Chamba
rumals
that can actually be attributed to a
maker, Maheshi Devi. She was said to be one of the
last embroiderers who actually worked in the Chamba
tradition and was skilled at
dorukha
embroidery. In
1967 she was the first recipient of the National Award
for this craft from President Dr. Radhakrishnan. She
and her brother often worked together, with him
painting the design, and Maheshi Devi doing the
embroidery. This is possibly one of the last pieces
they created together. Maheshi Devi trained a
number of women in the art of
dorukha
embroidery.
Unfortunately, no effort was made to train the
painters to draw on the
rumals
and the art gradually
died out.
Jasleen Dhamija acquired the present lot in 1960.
6
CHAMBA RUMAL WITH KRISHNA
IN RASLILA
Embroidered by Maheshi Devi
CHAMBA, HIMACHAL, MID 20
TH
CENTURY
Machine-made cotton fabric, hand embroidered with
untwisted silk thread, double-sided, natural dyes
27.5 x 27.5 in (70 x 70 cm)
$ 4,550 - 6,065
Rs 3,00,000 - 4,00,000
Chamba embroidery is synonymous with large square
or rectangular pieces of muslin or cotton, known
as
rumals
, adorned with figures and floral motifs
embroidered in multiple colours. They were typically
used as covers for offerings to deities or for gifts
exchanged at weddings and other festive occasions.
Numerous Pahari miniatures depict women carrying
trays of offerings to Krishna or Devi covered with such
embroidered
rumals
. At times, they were hung behind
idols enshrined in temples.