The city of Ahmedabad owes its prosperity to three textiles
- cotton, silk and gold. Housed in one of Gujarat's famous
carved wooden 'havelis', the museum displays a magnificent
collection of rare textiles that date back to the 17th century.
Thematic Sections
The Museum has no less than five centuries of the finest
fabrics spun, woven, printed and painted in different parts
of India. It also has a collection of marble, sandstone
and bronze icons and busts split in two thematic sections-
gallery for religious textiles and historical textiles.
There is also an excellent reference library on textiles.
Amazing Collection
Colourful embroidered wall hangings depicting Krishna
legends hang from the second floor right down to ground
level. Cloth decorated with tie-dye, glinting mirror work,
screen prints, block prints and intricate embroidery include
exquisite pieces made for the British and Portuguese and
exported to Bali, while from India's royal households there's
an embroidered tent and the robes of Shah Jahan, along with
elaborate carpets and plump cushions that once furnished
Muslim palaces.
The Fabulous Patola
The collection also includes some of the best examples
anywhere of the Patola saris woven in Patan as well as the
extravagant Zari work that gilds saris in heavy gold stitching
and can bring their weight to almost nine kilos.
Jain Section
The Jain section features statues housed in a replica
Haveli Temple, along with centuries-old manuscripts and
'mandalas' painted on palm leaves; note the traditional
symbols such as the snake and ladder motif representing
rebirth and 'karma'.
State Specialties
Among exhibits from else where in India are Kashmiri shawls,
Kullu embroidery, glittering silk brocades from Varanasi,
folk art from the Punjab and masks and large wooden temple
cars (processional vehicles) from Tamil Nadu. Tribal crafts
such as Kachchhi silk and cotton 'mashru' weaving are displayed
in spectacular wooden 'havelis' from Patna and Siddhpur
in northern Gujarat. Clearly labelled models and diagrams
explain the weaving, dyeing and embroidery processes.
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