Pakistani Ralli or Patchwork Quilt

Chocolate and cream octagons, edged in tangerine.

Makers in Pakistan stitched this ralli, or patchwork quilt, in cotton in the mid to late 20th century. The form is associated with Sindh and nearby regions, where rallis often serve as bedding and gifts. Brown and white rounded octagons alternate in a tidy checkerboard, and a bold orange border keeps them in line. The cotton is soft and lightly worn. The octagons are cut generously, so the brown reads as a single deep note.

About 78 by 52 inches. Quiet drama for a sofa back.