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2002/146/1 Quilt, 'Nakshi kantha' (embroidered quilt), cotton / silk, designed by Surayia Rahman, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 1983 - 1984. Click to enlarge.
  • Image 1 of 8, 2002/146/1 Quilt, 'Nakshi kantha' (embroidered quilt), cotton / silk, designed by Surayia Rahman, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 1983 - 1984. Click to enlarge
  • Image 2 of 8, 2002/146/1 Quilt, 'Nakshi kantha' (embroidered quilt), cotton / silk, designed by Surayia Rahman, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 1983 - 1984. Click to enlarge
  • Image 3 of 8, 2002/146/1 Quilt, 'Nakshi kantha' (embroidered quilt), cotton / silk, designed by Surayia Rahman, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 1983 - 1984. Click to enlarge
  • Image 4 of 8, 2002/146/1 Quilt, 'Nakshi kantha' (embroidered quilt), cotton / silk, designed by Surayia Rahman, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 1983 - 1984. Click to enlarge
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    Image 5 of 8, 2002/146/1 Quilt, 'Nakshi kantha' (embroidered quilt), cotton / silk, designed by Surayia Rahman, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 1983 - 1984. Click to enlarge
  • Image 6 of 8, 2002/146/1 Quilt, 'Nakshi kantha' (embroidered quilt), cotton / silk, designed by Surayia Rahman, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 1983 - 1984. Click to enlarge
  • Image 7 of 8, 2002/146/1 Quilt, 'Nakshi kantha' (embroidered quilt), cotton / silk, designed by Surayia Rahman, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 1983 - 1984. Click to enlarge
  • Image 8 of 8, 2002/146/1 Quilt, 'Nakshi kantha' (embroidered quilt), cotton / silk, designed by Surayia Rahman, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 1983 - 1984. Click to enlarge

Nakshi kantha or embroidered quilt, Bangladesh

This spectacular embroidered quilt, known as a nakshi kantha, was one of a group of three designed by Surayia Rahman and hand made by homeless women in Bangladesh in the early 1980s under a scheme called "Skill Development for Under Privileged Women". Each quilt was made by eight women working everyday for a year. Of the three, one was gifted to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, who said it would end up in one of the Windsor Castle bedrooms; a second was purchased by a textile museum in …

Summary

Object No.

2002/146/1

Object Statement

Quilt, 'Nakshi kantha' (embroidered quilt), cotton / silk, designed by Surayia Rahman, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 1983 - 1984

Physical Description

Quilt, 'Nakshi kantha' (embroidered quilt), cotton / silk, designed by Surayia Rahman, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 1983 - 1984.

A large, square, hand embroidered quilt on a cream background. The outside edge has been bound with red stitching in a zig-zag pattern. The dominant central motif is a black elephant embroidered with trappings and flowers, surrounded by four padma (lotus), amidst a profusion of gaily coloured plants, birds and symbols of everyday life. The central panel is surrounded by dark red herringbone stitching.

The outer border consists of red and pink flowers and green leaves which are varying interpretations of the lotus flower, being different on each of the four sides. On each of the long sides the lotus are interspersed with a sweeping 's' line. Inside that border again, on a pale blue background, there is a row of yellow boteh (in Bangladesh, kalka) motifs.

Marks

Embroidered on reverse 'SKILL DEVELOPMENT FOR/UNDERPRIVILEGED WOMEN/DEC. 1/83 - DEC 1/84/EIGHT WOMEN WORKING PER DAY/DESIGNED BY - SURAYIA RAHMAN/SUE AND ALLAN - WEDDING ANNIVERSARY/28.1.85'.

Short URL

https://ma.as/11214

Dimensions

Height

2940 mm

Width

2680 mm

Source

Credit Line

Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program by Susan Tuckwell, 2002

Acquisition Date

18 December 2002

Cite this Object

Harvard

Nakshi kantha or embroidered quilt, Bangladesh 2023, Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, accessed 25 March 2023, <https://ma.as/11214>

Wikipedia

{{cite web |url=https://ma.as/11214 |title=Nakshi kantha or embroidered quilt, Bangladesh |author=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences |access-date=25 March 2023 |publisher=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, Australia}}

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