Unknown Artist
- Title
- large shawl ('jangshem kira')
- Place of origin
-
Bhutan
- Year
- 20th century
- Media category
- Textile
- Materials used
- cotton, dyes; supplementary weft weave
- Dimensions
-
243.0 x 127.0cm
- Signature & date
- Not signed. Not dated.
- Credit
- Bequest of Alex Biancardi 2000
- Accession number
- 296.2000
- Copyright
- © Copyright reserved
- Location
- Not on display
- Further information
This Bhutanese textile or 'kira' is worn as a type of shawl, held at the shoulders by a silver clip. Although apparently simple in its striped design, the ‘kira’ is categorised according to a complex system based on the varying number of stripes patterning the cloth and their colour schemes. 'Kira' fall into three broad categories: the first category referring to plain coloured striped cloths, often with double-faced or continuous supplementary warp weave embellishment, such as this textile, are for everyday use. The second category refers to either blue or green cloths with intricate embroidered embellishment; and the third category consists of the intricately woven silk or silk embellished cloths used by the Bhutanese aristocracy.
Asian Art Department, AGNSW, August 2000
