tie-dyed Mothra technique with gold leaf patterning, jewels, signed, very rare Royal India; three panels (one panel is two pieces) sewn together; tie-dyed diamond shapes with gold leaf designs at each diamond corner; black and white sheer; metallic petal sewn on two corners; two selvedges; two raw edges; lower edge: embroidered numbers, "836" twice

Woman's festival veil (Divali odhani), c. 1850-1875

Unknown artist, expand_more
Not on Viewexpand_more

On a moonless night in the month of Kartik (November-December), Hindu women throughout India light small oil lamps to commemorate an age-old victory of good over evil and to honor Lakshmi, goddess of good fortune. So begins the joyous festival of Divali. In times past, men and women in Rajasthan celebrated the holiday by wearing indigo-dyed cloth accented with gold, evoking Divali lamps glowing against a dark sky.

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Details
Title
Woman's festival veil (Divali odhani)
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2004.169.85
Curator Approved

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tie-dyed Mothra technique with gold leaf patterning, jewels, signed, very rare Royal India; three panels (one panel is two pieces) sewn together; tie-dyed diamond shapes with gold leaf designs at each diamond corner; black and white sheer; metallic petal sewn on two corners; two selvedges; two raw edges; lower edge: embroidered numbers, "836" twice