Kalamkari Panel

This method of block printing and hand painting has been dated back to as far as 3000 B.C., and is still practiced today. The process takes 23 steps- naturally bleaching, washing, and softening the fabric, then drawing on the black outlines, washing again, and adding color are some of them. Traditionally, they would use natural dyes, so they typically had the same color palette of rust, mustard, indigo, green, and black.

This piece was likely a wall hanging, table cover or handkerchief due to the size and style. The field is decorated with vines of stylized flowers and leaves, surrounded by a border with similar but smaller motifs with geometric elements.