Indian Textile Printing Block

Paisleys tumble across the face, with bright pinholes winking among the curls.

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. In form, a squarish slab with a slightly ragged outline and brownish tones showing at the edges. Rows of teardrop shapes fill the face, packed with scrollwork. Small drilled holes appear as pale dots scattered between them. It is 5.5 inches wide, 2.5 deep and 4.25 high.

Plenty of motifs, and every one of them has company.