Embroidered Sari Border

Surat, Gujarat, India, Pakistan

6 x 550 cm

Second half 19th century

Embroidery with coloured two-ply silk on black silk

Good Condition

This kind of embroidery (chinai work) was made by Chinese settlers in Surat for the rich Parsee community in Bombay These borders were made for decorating the edges of saris. Black saris and black borders were considered unlucky or inauspicious wear and meant only for funerals and memorial prayer services. I have a long few borders in my collection as well some smaller fragments with different designs, please inquire for more information Description in: Irwin&Hall-Indian Embroidery, Ahmedabad 1972 Here you’ll find an interesting article: http://www.dsource.in/resource/parsi-embroidered-sari-borders/wearing-sa...

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