Bolt of Gold and Silver Cloth with Beetle Wing Embroidery
Label
Bolt of Gold and Silver Cloth with Beetle Wing Embroidery
Summary
A bolt of gold and silver fabric embroidered with green beetle wings in the shape of a flower motif.
Contents
Bolt of Gold and Silver Cloth with Beetle Wing Embroidery, from India and presumably used by Elizabeth/Sharaf un-Nisa.
Keywords
textiles, embroidery, beetle wing, colonial India, art, attire, craft, 18th century, insects, handmade, Mughal, gold, silver
Object Type
textile
Shelfmark
UA SNED 37A
Metadata Creators
Megan Robb, Juliana Lu, Munazza Ebtikar
Repository City
Philadelphia
Roles
[owner] Elizabeth Sharaf un-Nisa Ducarel
Date
Late 18th century
Place Origin
Bengal
Provenance Details
Palmer Family Archive, Devon, England
Language
N/A
Decoration
Gold and silver cloth appliqued with emerald-colored beetle wings in the shape of flowers.
Layout
unstable_archives_item
Hand Script
31''L
Dimensions
Beetlewing embroidery is a traditional craft practiced in India and several other Asian countries that used the wing casings of iridescent beetles. Beetles of the genus Sternocera were most prized due to their emerald green color and metallic shine.
Additional Info
Please unroll the bolt of fabric as far as possible without harming the textile (at least 3-4 feet if possible) and photograph the textile. Please photograph both the top and bottom of the textile to capture sewing details on the underside.