A Beautifully Decorated Rajasthani Envelope: Embroidery and Mirrors

ca. mid twentieth century
13 1/4" x 9", 33.5 cm x 23 cm

This envelope shaped bag comes from India's state of Rajasthan and is said to have been made in Ramsar, a village about 100 miles southwest of Jaipur.  It is just stunning for its superb workmanship, its great condition, its fine and delicious coloration and its beautiful symmetry of design and pattern.

The base cloth is rich, red colored cotton, but this can barely be seen due to the heavily embellished surface: the skin of this bag is studded with stupendously good mirror work (all intact) and is crammed with expertly stitched embroidery, to which there is virtually no sun fading or loss.  A pearlized white button studded with a cluster of beads acts as closure to the bag, which would have been secured using the long, dangling tie, also still intact.

This bag feels wonderful in the hand; it is heavily laded with decoration and this weight is obvious when you pick up the bag to admire it.  It is a truly splendid thing, and a cut above the rest which you have not doubt seen before: this one is in near-mint condition, and is luxuriously beautiful.