Santhal Pat or Story Scroll

Narrow folded strip crowded with tiny scenes, from a river to a tree full of folk.

This painted pat or story scroll is Santhal, from Bihar / Jharkhand, Bihar, India, and dates to the 19th or mid 20th century. It is painted paper. Scroll paintings are made with natural pigments on paper or cloth, and their scenes are arranged in sequence so that a story can be followed panel by panel. A tree with seated people sits at the top, a winding river crosses near the bottom, and small dancers fill the gaps. A fold crosses the middle. It is 8.25 inches wide and 25.4 deep.

Busy little scenes, folded away for later.