Indian Textile Printing Block

Dark, irregular block carved with sprays of leaves and one large teardrop motif.

This carved wood textile printing block is from Varanasi, India, and dates to the 20th century. Block printing is done by pressing a carved wooden block, coated with dye or paste, onto cloth, and the block can be reused to repeat a motif. Flat, uneven shaped block in dark brown with reddish highlights. The face is cut with dense floral sprigs, a long paisley-like form and small scattered blossoms across a rough, chipped outline. It is 7 inches wide, 1.5 deep and 4 high.

Wildly decorative, and not at all neat about it.