Indian Textile Printing Block

Circles of rosettes sit above a fringe of tall, dotted teardrops.

This carved wood textile printing block is from Varanasi, India, and dates to the 20th century. Printing blocks are usually carved from a dense, fine-grained wood, because the design must hold sharp edges through many repeated impressions. Seen straight on, a tall, heavy slab with several horizontal bands: tiny scalloped trim, three round medallions, a diamond border, then a comb-like row of long loops with dotted centers. Edges are worn and the dark surface shows a reddish glint at the top. It is 6 inches wide, 2 deep and 4.5 high.

A whole border sampler, carved before breakfast.