T259

Banjara kantha bag with shells Rajasthan , India 18″ x 20″ The Banjara (Sanskrit for “wanderers in the jungle)  are a community usually described as nomadic people from the Indian state of Rajasthan, now spread out all over Indian subcontinent. The Banjara embroidery are especially prized and form a significant aspect of the Banjara identity. Lambani women specialize in “lepo” embroidery which involves stitching pieces of mirror, decorative beads and coins onto clothes. Kantha is a type of embroidery in eastern South Asia. In some regions, old saris are stacked on each other and hand-stitched to make a thin piece of cushion. This is normally used above a bed cushion or instead of a cushion. Kantha is typically performed by rural women. The traditional form of Kantha embroidery was done with soft dhotis and saris, with a simple running stitch along the edges. Oftentimes the entire cloth is covered with running stitches, employing beautiful motifs of flowers, animals birds and geometrical shapes, as well as themes from everyday activities. The stitching on the cloth gives it a slight wrinkled, wavy effect.