Indian Hanging Shrine Decoration

Calmly, a long plum-dark strip glittering with tiny circles and mirror-like sparkles.

This embroidered cotton hanging shrine decoration is from Gujarat, India, and dates to the 20th century. Gujarat has a long needlework tradition, including dense embroidery and mirror work, often made by women's communities for festivals, weddings and the decoration of household shrines. Presented simply, a tall narrow textile in deep aubergine, finely woven, with a band of small embroidered circles and sparkling discs running down one side. Some clusters show red and orange cross-shaped stitching. A narrow edging strip sits at the bottom. It is 235 inches wide and 30 long.

Dark and subtle, with a good deal of glitter in reserve.