Indian Dyed Cotton Cloth for the Islamic Export Markets

This cloth, possibly intended as a head scarf, is the product of textile makers in Machilipatnam (Masulipatam) in Andhra Pradesh state in India. They produced textiles for the local Muslim community, and for Islamic export markets such as Persia and Indonesia. (Armenian traders were significant players in this trade at the time.)

It is of cotton and decorated in the delicate, floral kalamkari technique associated with Machilipatnam.

The designs are a combination of being block-printed and hand-drawn onto the cloth, usually with a bamboo pen, which was also used to apply wax resist and mordants.

The design comprises a large red-ground field decorated with evenly spaced small floral sprays, all within a wide, colourful zig-zag border.

The example here is in perfect condition and yet has clear age.