WOVEN TREASURES: TEXTILES FROM THE JASLEEN DHAMIJA COLLECTION (19-20 OCTOBER 2016)

CHAMBA RUMALS WITH RASLILA

CHAMBA, HIMACHAL PRADESH, CIRCA 1930

a) Handspun and handwoven cotton, hand

embroidered with untwisted silk thread, natural dyes

28.5 x 29.5 in (73 x 75 cm)

b) Handspun and handwoven cotton, hand

embroidered with untwisted silk thread, natural dyes

31.5 x 31.5 in (80 x 80 cm)

c) Handspun and handwoven cotton, hand

embroidered with untwisted silk thread, natural dyes

29.75 x 30.25 in (76 x 77 cm)

$ 3,035 - 4,550

Rs 2,00,000 - 3,00,000

(Set of three)

These three

rumals

feature renditions of the

Ras Lila

and are embroidered in a more folk tradition than the

Classical style seen in lots 6 and 24. Such

rumals

were

embroidered by women from all strata of society –

including royal families and households. While the

basic aesthetics and themes remained the same, the

subject, execution of the embroidery, fineness of

the line, delineation of the figures and the choice of

colours differed significantly.

Rumal

s embroidered in the folk style, as seen in

the present lot, are vibrant and lively pictorial

representations. The women drew the outlines for the

designs themselves or worked the patterns directly

onto the fabric. They show a more bold treatment

of form and use more vibrant colours. There is a sense

of unrestrained movement and abandonment, as is

evident from the three

rumals

shown here.

Jasleen Dhamija acquired most of the Chamba

rumals

from the hill states of Mandi and Palampur.