Chikankari
Kairi Chikankari Sari
“A silk tanchoi (similar to amru brocade) sari with an all-over woven pattern and a background showcasing the characteristic satin finish.”
Crafted using an extra set of colourful weft silk yarns in shades of green and majenta, the satin ground is ornamented with intricate floral sprays interspersed with twin kairi (paisley) motifs delicately arranged one atop the other.
Woven on a traditional Banarasi handloom, the sari embodies the distinctive tanchoi weaving technique, where a single coloured warp and two or multiple coloured primary weft threads intertwine to create a multi-hued design.
The pallu (end-piece) features an intricate array of kairis in varying in sizes and forms, arranged within three horizontal panels, creating a timeless pattern.
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.