Akho Garo- Fully embroidered sari

2013.18

Akho Garo- Fully embroidered sari

2013.18

Description

Garo has become an identity for Parsi women. It is worn on special occasions as well as at marriages.By the early 19th century prominent Parsis owned shipping companies and plied a profitable trade with China. Appreciative of chinese embroidery, Parsi traders bought embroidered silks for their families and placed orders for embroidered sari borders,saris,blouses and pantaloons.The embroidery was worked on a variety of chinese silks.Over time,the word garo(from the Gujarati word for a sari) was associated with the chinese embroidered sari.

The design and motifs were essentially Chinese mainly depicting floral creepers,birds and animals.Many of these motifs have symbolic meaning.The peony and the magnolia signify spring,fungus and bamboo for longevity,deer and crane symbolize long life,and butterflies are the emblem of happiness.Garo motifs were generally embroidered in long and short satin and the tiny kha-kha or seed -pearl stitch akin to a minute French knot.

This Sari belong to Meheran Bhabha,the mother of Sir Homi Bhabha.
Gift of Maki S. Masani.

Collection

Textiles and Costumes of India

Object Type

Cloth Sari

Material

Silk with embroidery

Schools/Culture/Period

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Technique

Embroidery in satin stitch, seed-pearl stitch.

Date

20th Century CE

Location

Maharashtra, Mumbai

Dimension

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