Traditional Indian gold/silver-work embroidered patchwork wall hanging (25)

  

Square wall hanging made from a patchwork of 21 embroidered panels, re-purposed from vintage clothing. All of the panels are elaborately decorated in a mix of gold and/or silver threads, with many forming settings for shisha mirrors. This gives the piece a lustrous sheen, especially when viewed obliquely. There are four loops, one in each corner, to allow hanging.

W x H: 42 x 42cm (16.5 x 16.5in). The condition of the piece is good.

The metallic threads are complete and retain their lustre. There are only a small number of short sections where the metal thread has parted to reveal the thread's cotton core; which presumably pre-dates the creation of the patchwork.

There are some loose threads from the patchwork panels (consistent with the age of the cloth), but the patchwork and quilting remain sound, with only a 1cm section of the edge showing signs of damage (see image). This is a vintage piece that formed part of a textile reference collection used for teaching embroidery over the last forty years. The precise age of the piece is unknown.