Gujarat Rabari Wedding Veil Shawl Vintage Embroidery Textile Saurashtra India

  
We are a Greek/English family-run business established in the UK in 2011. Since then we have built up a large collection of unique items, hand-picked from private collectors sales. Our choice of items is based on quality, craftsmanship, cultural interest and beauty. We research every single item and aim to provide as much information as possible about its history and provenance. We speak English perfectly, as well as understanding Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and French, so please do communicate without fear for any questions you may have. We are here to help and provide any information you need at all times. We have been packing and sending items abroad for many years and have successfully delivered even the most fragile pieces including Venetian mirrors, carved chairs and arabesque tables. Vintage Embroidered Veil / shawl called Ludki. This is a traditional wedding veil /shawl by the Machhukantha Rabari community of Morbi, Saurashtra region of Gujarat. This veil is regarded as auspicious attire during the marriages as in the making of such beautiful veils 3 different communities were involved. The wool comes from Rabari itself as they are shepherds. They sheer the wool and then it is given to Vankars (weavers) to weave who belong to another community and then it is given to Khatri muslim community for tie and dye and then it gets back to Rabari ladies who do elaborate embroidery on it. This tradition is extinct now. No more such shawls are worn unfortunately and not available any more.

Embroidered with wool and cotton threads with mirrors on tie dyed local sheep wool. (info credit: Salim Wazir, expert on Indian Tribal Textiles). From the mid 20th Century. Very good vintage condition: some threads are loose or ruffled. In the summer of 2013 our shop featured in the BBC series Antiques Road Trip; we have also worked with prop-masters and costume designers in the film industry, supplying jewellery and antiques for productions such as Mr Holmes (with Ian Mckellan), Viceroy's House (directed by Gurinder Chadha), the upcoming Disney production Maleficient II, and the TV series Downton Abbey.