Chasuble

Unknown

second quarter 18th century · Cotton, drawn and painted resist and mordant, dyed, silk trim · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

This glorious painted resist and mordant dyed hand-woven cotton can be attributed to the talented specialist painters, called Kalamkari, active in south-eastern India. Called "Chintz", from the Hindi "chint" meaning "speckled", late seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Europeans adored these textiles, exporting them in great numbers. Here, lengths from one chintz, or perhaps two separate, differently patterned chintzes, have been carefully repurposed, patched together and used to create a Roman Catholic priest's chasuble– the tabard-like tunic worn whilst conducting church services.

Artist

Unknown

Date

second quarter 18th century

Medium

Cotton, drawn and painted resist and mordant, dyed, silk trim

Culture

Indian, Coromandel Coast and Central European, for European market

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of Mrs. William Sloane Coffin, 1975