'Rumal' ou tissu rituel brodé à la main, Inde, Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, première moitié du 20ème siècle

150 x 147 cm (without fringes)

The 'Chamba rumal' (literally: cloth or towel) is known for its extremely fine double-sided silk embroidery ('do-rukha' or 'double satin stitch'), often featuring mythological, floral, or mandala motifs, used in religious rituals, weddings, and temple decoration. This embroidery is one of the most important textile traditions of North India and among the most collectible pieces of Indian embroidery. The 'rumal' tradition originated in the 17th C. during the Pahari Rajput courts in Chamba, Kangra, and Basohli. Families in Chamba gave such 'rumals' to each other at weddings, depicting scenes from mythology as blessings and prosperity.