PLATE FOURTEEN
Length: 127 inches
Width: 53 inches
Condition: complete
Collection: Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum; Varanasi, India

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This shawl, another fragment also in the Bharat Kala Bhavan (BKB) collection and a third example in the National Museum in New Dehli, are the only known examples with this pattern. Similar zig-zag patterns are found as architectural decorations in many Islamic countries but surprisingly are unknown in the 12th -17th century in India or Kashmir. Does this signify it was foreign inspired or made expressly on contract? If so, why then are the only examples of conserved in Indian museums?

Another intriguing and exceptionally unusual shawl (fig.42) is also in the BKB collection. This one is unique and has no similar or related examples. Both this Plate and figure 42 can be dated to the end of the 18th century.