Chikankari
Kairi Chikankari Sari
“A silk tanchoi sari, crafted using the traditional satin weave technique, where the pattern is created with an extra primary weft, providing it a distinctive embossed effect.”
A true masterpiece, the sari features delicately woven diagonal lines of floral vines flowing seamlessly across the body. The border, woven in pure silver zari, reflects the remarkable craftsmanship of the weaver.
The sari has a narrow pallu (end-piece), accentuated by three horizontal woven zari bands adorned with floral motifs. Each band is framed by a narrow border of meticulously woven flowers and leaves, further enriched by a continuous row of leaf-shaped motifs on either side.
The soft, pastel hue of the sari beautifully complements the shimmering silver zari.
Mango or cypress; eternal fertility and life. Identified across the body butis and border of this object.
Open motif entryContinuity; the rhythm of nature. Identified across the creeping borders of this object.
Open motif entryTanchoi is a fine figured-silk weave in which one or two warp threads and several weft colours build a dense, all-over pattern with no loose floats on the reverse — the back is as clean as the front. Brought to Surat and later Varanasi by the Parsi community in the nineteenth century, the technique produces a self-toned, jamawar-like richness.