Embroidered Dreams: A Personal Appreciation of Bengali Kanthas

PLATE 24
Early twentieth century
Cotton plain weave; hand-sewn, quilted, and embroidered with cotton thread
89 ¾ in. x 61 13/ 16 in. (228 cm x 157 cm)

Mingei International Museum, Gift of Courtenay C. McGowen, 2013-33-006

This early twentieth-century sujni kantha features a rather small central mandala surrounded by various fgures and animals and a large temple cart pulled by a horse. The embroidery is a bit crude, but it imparts a delightful liveliness to the subjects presented. Shrimp, fsh, cows, deer, peacocks, and owls cavort with a man with a gun and another man carrying an umbrella while walking his dog. The umbrella would have been a prized possession at the time. The inscription reads, “Shri Satish Chandra Naskar,” which is clearly the name of the owner, Satish Chandra Naskar. The second line indicates that the family’s business was selling saris, which was often the vocation of Naskars of Bengal.

Notes:
Line 1: Shri Satish Chandra Naskar
Line 2: sam sa shadi

Comments: Satish Chandra Naskar is clearly the name of the owner. The second line probably states that the family’s business was selling saris or sarees, which is often the vocation of Naskars of Bengal.