Terms and conditions of use
Wall hanging
(Pardah)
(20th century)
Medium
silk (ikat), cotton, cotton (thread)
Measurements
202.3 × 111.5 cm
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased with funds donated by Vivien Knowles, 2012
Gallery location
Not on display
About this work
Known as pardah, meaning ‘veil’ in the Uzbek and Tajik languages, wall hangings were a popular form of decoration in the homes of urban dwellers across Central Asia. The more luxurious pardah were symbols of prestige, and wealthy families typically owned numerous fine examples. This hanging features emblematic red, blue and yellow motifs that resemble stylised floral paisley and traditional jewellery forms, on an undyed white ground. The design was created using the ikat technique, in which warp threads are bound to resist-coloured dyes, a process repeated for successive colours before weaving. This pardah was assembled by quilting several ikat pieces together.
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
Uzbekistan
Accession Number
2012.356
Department
Asian Art
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Gordon Darling Foundation
Physical description
This pieced hanging is made from lightly quilted silk. The central panel is decorated with large pendant jewellery forms, surrounded by fabric with a zigzag pattern forming stepped triangles, every second of which contains a smaller jewellery motif. Mainly in purple, red and yellow dyes, the decoration was created using the ikat technique in which warp threads are bound to resist coloured dyes, a process repeated for successive colours, prior to weaving.