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BAGH KABUTRI
WEST PUNJAB (NOW PAKISTAN)
CIRCA 1930
Handspun and handwoven cotton,
hand embroidered with untwisted silk
thread, natural dyes
55 x 90.5 in (140 x 230 cm)
$ 6,065 - 9,095
Rs 4,00,000 - 6,00,000
The
bold
and
striking
composition of this
bagh
is unusual, it is exquisitely
embroidered with seven rows
of stylised, perched pigeons.
Arranged in diagonals across
the bright orange surface, the
rows alternate with white, pink
and lime green birds. Small deer
can be seen prancing along the
edge of the length, while sleeping
pigeons with their head tucked
under their wings are visible
along the width.
Pigeons
were
considered
auspicious and were traditionally
held as symbols of love
and fertility. They were also
associated with marital bliss
and embroidered by women
to ensure a long and happy
married life. The simplicity and
minimalism of this traditionally
embroidered piece evokes a
strikingly modern sensibility.