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Screen printing ·

Screen-Printed Sari

KL/47/2024 · Accession215" × 45"Screen printingCatalogued 25.06.2024Fair condition
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KL/47/2024 · PLATE 01
IIIF DEEP-ZOOM · 8400 × 10500
10 cm
Full Object — Front — high-resolution archival photograph
© The Krishna Lal Collection · Photography by [studio] · Licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 for scholarly use. Request high-resolution access via Research Office.
Catalogue Record

Object Metadata

Accession Number
KL/47/2024
Object Title
Screen-Printed Sari
Production State
Craft Tradition
Screen printing
Craft Technique
Screen printing; Handloom
Weave Type
Plain weave ground, printed
Primary Materials
Cotton
Tradition
Screen Print
Dimensions
215" × 45" (L × W)
Colour Palette
CreamBlack
Condition
Fair — Minor wear, handle with care
Current Location
The Krishna Lal Collection, New Delhi
Documented By
Sareekah Agarwaal
Documented On
25.06.2024
Schema Standard
Getty Art & Architecture Thesaurus (AAT)
§ I — Curatorial Narrative
by Sareekah Agarwaal, 2024

A printed silk sari featuring a unique colour palette and traditional motifs thoughtfully arranged in perfect symmetry to exude harmony and grace.

The defining feature of the sari is its two satin borders of varying thickness, running lengthwise on both sides. The satin weave enhances the print with a subtle sheen, elevating the sari’s rich and luxurious appeal.

Inspired by traditional designs, the print seamlessly blends delicate floral motifs with intricately rendered animal figures adding a tactile dimension to the smooth silk surface. Created using the hand screen printing method, the sari is a testament to fine craftsmanship.

Footnotes
  1. 1 See Mohanty, B.C., Ikat Fabrics of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, Calico Museum, 1980.
  2. 2 Field interview, master weaver, March 2024.
  3. 3 Refer to motif index entries below.
§ II — Motif Analysis
2 motifs identified
Vines
लताएँ

Continuity; the rhythm of nature. Identified across the creeping borders of this object.

Open motif entry
Geometric
ज्यामिति

Cosmic order; mathematical harmony in weave. Identified across the woven ground of this object.

Open motif entry
§ III — Technique
Screen printing

Screen
Printing

Several of India's painted-textile traditions descend directly from ritual wall and floor art: Madhubani from the Mithila murals of Bihar, Warli from the Adivasi wall paintings of Maharashtra, Sohrai from the harvest art of eastern India. Applied to silk and cotton with natural pigments and bamboo or twig pens, they carry a graphic, narrative density unlike any woven design.

STEP 01
Prime the cloth
STEP 02
Sketch the composition
STEP 03
Fill with natural pigments
STEP 04
Outline and detail
Open technique family
DIAGRAM — Hand Painting process
Fig. III.1 · Hand Painting · Pigments on cloth
Cite This Object
Agarwaal, S. (2024). Screen-Printed Sari (KL/47/2024). The Krishna Lal Collection: An Archive of Indian Textile Traditions. Retrieved 01 Jun 2026 from krishnalal-collection.org/collection/kl-47-2024.
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