Cotton Quilt Cover With Applique, India, circa 1930. Handstitched applique, 104 x 183 cm (41 x 72 inches). Provenance: The Carol Summers Collection of Indian Folk Textiles.
 
Charming and delightful are two words that spring to mind. This is a lovely thing, it radiates happiness. Beautifully crafted from recycled cotton and silk saris, appliqued to a warm, off white cotton ground. The unknown artist behind this was bursting with confidence; abstracted elephants sit boldly silhouetted among a wildly colourful tree of life design, surrounded by a patterned border of orange, pink, green and black teardrops and diamonds. Human figures nestle under a Toran (a ceremonial door hanging) at the base.
 
The piece has no lining, the edges are finished with black cotton applique to three sides, while the top is plain, and folded over to give a finished edge. Condition is excellent for age. A couple of very small holes to the cotton ground, occasional wear to some of the appliqued pieces. (in a couple of places, the applique has entirely gone, leaving the stitching around the outline only). The ground is generally very clean, there are some small, light stains, with the top empty section the worst affected. The piece presents superbly overall. Please see images and video, extra images here.
 
Provenance: The Carol Summers Collection of Indian Folk Textiles. Carol Summers was a well known American printmaker who travelled extensively in India and Nepal to build his collection of folk textiles between 1976 and 2013. The vibrancy of colour and bold expression of these textiles was a clear and important influence on his own work. 
 
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