Textiles Of India

Dating back to the fifth millennium BCE, India's rich and vibrant textile tradition boasts an enormous range of techniques and extraordinary level of artistry. Drawn from the Helmut and Heidi Neumann collection, one of the world's finest collections of Indian textiles, this book presents an overview of centuries of artistic production from every corner of India.

Each section examines a different region to reveal its distinct textile traditions, patterns, and processes: Patola silks from Gujarat, brocade lampas preserved in Tibetan temples, mordant resist dyed cottons from Indonesia, embroideries from rural Bengal, and silk saris from Murshidabad. The book also delves into the roles that textiles have played in daily life over the centuries, from household and dowry textiles to devotional pieces and exquisite materials crafted for rich patrons.