Woman’s Shawl (Abochhini)

A mirror cloth of exceptional quality and very good vintage. This head cover (abochhini) is a dowery textile worn by married women in Northwest India and the Sindh province of Pakistan. The designs and techniques used indicate where the wearer lived. Stylized blossoms and flowering motifs are favored with those who live in a desert area.

The beautiful, deep sienna ground is comprised of two narrower pieces stitched together to form a larger panel. It is decorated with black, pink, blue, orange, and off-white chain and satin stitch embroidery and Shisha mirror work. The central motif is an abstract blossom surrounded by a field of smaller flowers, and the top and bottom borders consist of shrubs of flowers. Small decorative borders encase the main field, top and bottom borders, and divide the field in half.

A sleeve attached to top for easy hanging.