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Embroidered Dreams: A Personal Appreciation of Bengali Kanthas

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PLATE 25
Early twentieth century
Cotton plain weave; hand-sewn, quilted, and embroidered with cotton thread
76 in. x 44 in. (193 cm x 111.8 cm)

Mingei International Museum, Gift of Courtenay C. McGowen, 2013-33-028

The border of this kantha is embroidered in imitation of woven sari borders. In the center, a small mandala is surrounded by horses, humans, birds, and pinwheels stitched in red, blue, black, and yellow thread. A stylized plant appears in each corner, and inscriptions are embroidered on both long edges.

Notes:
1. ei kanthar malkan Ronida
   The owner (malkan or malikan) of this kantha is Roni, the older brother.
2. Shri kishna (Krishna)
3. Shri rata (Radha?)

Comments: Probably an example of semi-literate woman’s inability to embroider the lettering correctly. No relation to the subject but simple invocations of the deities. The suffix da (pronounced daa) when added to a name in Bengali denotes an older male sibling. For a woman it is di.