Phulkari ("floralork" or "flower craft") is embroidery work made by women in towns and villages across the greater Punjab—a region that now spans Pakistan and India—from at least the early 19th century through the 1920s. Brightly colored silk threads from unspun wild silk were embroidered on handspun and handwoven earth-toned fabric. Phulkaris served primarily as women's ceremonial wraps for weddings and other significant occasions. After the partition of Punjab in 1947, phulkaris also became commercial exports. This example consists of three panels of handwoven red cloth sewn together, featuring double-sided embroidery.
Acquisition
Accession
2023.2
Source or Donor
Estate of Paul J. Smith
Credit Line
Gift of the Paul J. Smith Estate
Made/Created
Artist
Unknown Maker
Textile Details
Technique
Plain Weave, Embroidery
Ethnography
Cultural Region
Country
India
Dimensions
Width
161 cm
Length
293 cm
Material
Cotton (handspun), Silk
Provenance
Notes
Collected by Paul J. Smith at unknown date, donated to TPF by his Estate in 2023.
