Naga Cotton Blanket, India

Cream cloth, dark stripes, and a few tiny rectangles of mystery.

Naga weavers of Nagaland, Northeast India, made this cotton blanket in the 20th century. Plain-ground cloths with striped borders are commonly worn wrapped over the body, and trim is often associated with the wearer’s standing. A wide cream field is edged on both sides by bands of narrow dark brown stripes. Small boxed motifs in dark thread are scattered across the center. White tassels finish the lower edge, and the cotton shows soft cloudy staining that reads as age.

About 60 by 42 inches. Calm enough for a bedroom, graphic enough for a gallery wall.