Carrying case

Object Details

• Label

  The embroidery style known as pakko (related to pakka, literally well-done) is characterized by black outlines around filled areas of color; this bag is embroidered with silk cloth. Of interest is the avoidance of symmetry in the design as a strategy to ward off the inauspicious (nazar ne laga). The background cloth is vegetable-dye printed cloth known as ajrak, which comes from Dhamarka region in Kutch. Women carry these small bags when they go to special events such as weddings. Cardamom seeds are usually carried within the bags.

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Origin

  Kutch, Gujarat State or Sindh province, India or Pakistan

• Credit Line

  Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Edward W. M. Bryant

• Type

  Costume and Textile

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1900s, 1990s

• Place

  Pakistan, Kutch, Sindh province, Gujarat State, India

• Topic

  South Asian and Himalayan Art, Art, Couching (embroidering)

• Culture

  Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Object Type

  Costume, Textiles