T275

Shisha India 76″ x 96″ Originating in the 17th century in India, shisha, or mirror-work, is a type of embroidery which attaches small pieces of reflective metal to fabric. Mirror embroidery is spread throughout Asia, and today can be found in the traditional embroidery of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and Indonesia. This type of embroidery creates a dazzling appearance adorning brightly colored clothes worn in the region, and is very popular for use on clothing, hangings, tapestries, and domestic textiles. The use of decorative mirror or shisheh was introduced from Muslim lands during the Mughal Empire. The term shisheh means glass in Persian.  Traditional shisha mirrors have a convex curve and were made extensively  by women in South Asia who use special scissors that are repeatedly dampened to prevent flying shards and snip them into smaller circular shapes. Among Hindus, Muslims and Jains in South Asia, the use of shisha torana tied to the front door is believed to ward off evil eyes.