We have had an Indian tint to our work at the TRC over the last few days!
Rectangle of cloth embellished with geometric and highly stylised human figures in various colours. There are also small glass mirrors (shisha work) at regular intervals. India, 2017 (TRC 2017.2653).
Last week we had a visit from Lipika Bansal (Textielfactorij), who is organising various groups of Indian crafts people to come to the Netherlands in order to give masterclasses. In the past, these classes included block printing forms, but Lipika is now expanding to include various Indian embroidery forms. She is currently organising a Kutch embroiderer, Geetaben Meriya, to come to the Netherlands in September to give classes about shisha work at various venues around the country. We have agreed to hold one of these masterclasses at the TRC. More specifically, It will be about Kutch mirror (shisha) work, which involves fastening glass mirrors to a cloth ground using various embroidery techniques.
Embroidered bodice in red cloth decorated with stylised flowers, birds and geometric motifs, as well as applied circles of glass (shisha work). India, Gujarat, 20th century (TRC 2021.2222).The masterclass will be held on the 25th September and will include a demonstration of different techniques of applying the glass to a cloth ground and the chance to personally try some of them. Cloth, threads, mirrors, etc., will be brought from India especially for this masterclass. More details are given below, but please note, this class is not for beginners in embroidery, some experience is essential.
It was also decided that in order to help put the masterclass in context, the TRC is organising a pop-up exhibition about shisha work that will be on display in September and October. It will include garments, outfits, panels, etc., all decorated with mirrors and embroidery. These will include Banjara and Kutch items, as well as other examples from western India, notably Gujarat and Rajasthan. We have also asked Lipika whether all the items needed to make a piece of shisha work (needles, threads, cloth, glass, etc) and a sample could also be provided for the exhibition.
Small cap with a large crown and wide brim. The cap is decorated with shisha-work. India, Gujarat/Kutch, 20th century (TRC 1997.0147).On Saturday (27th July), Willem and I went to Belgium to see Hélène van Spaendonck, who is downsizing, and leaving an amazing home (part of an old farmhouse complex) that for many years has been filled with a fascinating range of objects, including prints, paintings, pottery, glass, and of course textiles. For decades, Hélène has been making garments and in particular, bespoke wedding dresses, and has a deep understanding and love of textiles.
Hélène has spent many happy days searching and collecting textiles and garments from all over the world as a source of inspiration for her own work and pleasure. Due to downsizing, many items in her collection had to find a new home and a significant number of these pieces are coming to the TRC. The first group of items were collected last Saturday, 27th July, and include textiles and garments from Nigeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Pakistan (mainly pulkaris), Uzbekistan (some stunning ikat chapans; these will be the subject of a separate blog), Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, and China (including some lovely late 19th century Han Chinese skirts and women’s jackets).
Red, triangular bag decorated on both sides with geometric shapes including diamonds, triangles, chevrons and zig-zags, flanked by a line of rectangles in interlacing stitches alternating with glass mirrors in red frames. India, Rajasthan/Jodhpur, 1980 (TRC 2022.2110).And yes, her donation to the TRC also include Indian pieces, such as Naga (northeastern India) panels and bead work, west Indian textiles and garments, notably from Gujarat and Rajasthan, as well as various pieces of shisha work, including some Banjara items So it was quickly decided that most of these pieces will be included in the pop-up exhibition. We are now working on this exhibition, which will open at the end of August.
Date: Wednesday, 25 September 2024. Time: 10.00 - 14.00 pm. Location: TRC Leiden, Hogewoerd 164, 2351 HW Leiden, The Netherlands. Instructor: Geetaben Meriya. Language: English. Costs: 65 euros (to be paid at the start of the meeting). Equipment / coffee / tea are provided, but please bring your lunch. Max. number of participants: 15. Please register in advance: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
