British Galleries:
The professional male embroiderers from the Mochi community in Kutch developed this embroidery technique by using a hook, as well as a needle. This was an adaptation of a method previously used on leather. Embroideries such as this were made for and sold to wealthy Indian patrons. [27/03/2003]
EMBROIDERED SKIRT
Professional male embroiderers of Kutch’s Mochi community embroidered skirt cloths like this for wealthy patrons. They used a hooked awl (ari) to create its fine chain-stitch, a technique adapted from leatherwork. The Rao (ruler) of Kutch sent this piece to London’s Great Exhibition of 1851 as part of ‘the dress of a lady of rank’.
Skirt length
Silk (satin weave) embroidered with silk
Kutch, Gujarat, about 1850
V&A: 791A-1852 [03/10/2015-10/01/2016]