In a weekly feature, we highlight a book of rug and textile interest. This week we look at Indian Cotton Textiles. Chintz from the 14th to the Early 20th Centuries in the Karun Thakar Collection.
Indian Cotton Textiles. Chintz from the 14th to the Early 20th Centuries in the Karun Thakar Collection by John Guy and Karun Thakar
India has been at the heart of the global trade in textiles since ancient times, and cotton has been at the heart of the subcontinent's economy for millennia. Indian dyed and painted cottons were admired in and traded to the Far East and the Mediterranean world for many generations before European interest in chintz created a new market. The trade in Indian cloth flourished due to the ability of its craftsmen to create a multitude of detailed and expressive patterns with strong and fast colours. Such textiles gained high esteem among the elite at home and abroad, ultimately acquiring heirloom status.
