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Kosa silk weaving · Chhattisgarh

Kosa Silk Sari with Warli Motifs

KL/52/2024 · Accession218" × 46"Kosa silk weavingCatalogued 18.07.2024Good condition
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KL/52/2024 · PLATE 01
IIIF DEEP-ZOOM · 8400 × 10500
10 cm
Full Object — Front — high-resolution archival photograph
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Catalogue Record

Object Metadata

Accession Number
KL/52/2024
Object Title
Kosa Silk Sari with Warli Motifs
Production State
Chhattisgarh
Craft Tradition
Kosa silk weaving
Craft Technique
Handloom weaving
Weave Type
Plain weave
Primary Materials
Kosa silk
Tradition
Kosa Silk
Dimensions
218" × 46" (L × W)
Colour Palette
BeigeMaroon
Condition
Good — Stable, no active deterioration
Current Location
The Krishna Lal Collection, New Delhi
Documented By
Sareekah Agarwaal
Documented On
18.07.2024
Schema Standard
Getty Art & Architecture Thesaurus (AAT)
§ I — Curatorial Narrative
by Sareekah Agarwaal, 2024

A handwoven tussar silk sari, skilfully created by incorporating extra weft designs during the weaving process.

The sari is woven by the weavers of Chhattisgarh belonging to the Dewangan tribe, one of the oldest weaving communities in India and the entire world. What sets this sari apart is its captivating portrayal of nature and tribal designs, inspired by the warli art tradition.

Adorning the pallu (end-piece) and border are intricate warli-style woven motifs depicting humans, trees, and animals, each detailed to capture the essence of tribal life. The body of the sari features delicate floral butis all over.

The pallu is finished with tassels. The tone-on-tone colour palette brings a touch of opulence to this timeless piece.

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
Kosa silk weaving

Kosa Silk
Weaving

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). Kosa Silk Sari with Warli Motifs (KL/52/2024). The Krishna Lal Collection: An Archive of Indian Textile Traditions. Retrieved 01 Jun 2026 from krishnalal-collection.org/collection/kl-52-2024.
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