Kantha (Embroidered Quilt)

Currently not on view

Kantha (Embroidered Quilt)

First half of 20th century

Artist/maker unknown, Bengali

Two lengths of a garment, one full and one cut in half, with their woven red selvages intact, give this kantha its distinctive linear subdivision. Playing off of this, the artist based her stitched composition on three vertical panels. Long vines run to either side of tiers filled with plants and animals. The pièce de résistance is a glorious banana plant, shown complete with ripening fruit, from which hangs an asymmetrical heart-shaped red flower, a delicacy in the region.

Currently not on view

Object Details

Title:

Kantha (Embroidered Quilt)

Date:

First half of 20th century

Artist:

Artist/maker unknown, Bengali

Medium:

Cotton plain weave with cotton embroidery in back, buttonhole, darning, running, eye, seed, and zig zag variation stitches

Dimensions:

6 feet 3 inches × 53 inches (190.5 × 134.6 cm)

Classification:

Textiles

Credit Line:

The Jill and Sheldon Bonovitz Collection, 2009

Accession Number:

2009-250-18

Geography:

Made in Undivided Bengal, Asia Possibly made in Bangladesh, Asia Possibly made in West Bengal, India, Asia

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Currently not on view