Sindhi Abochhini Shawl

This Sindhi abochhini shawl was made in Pakistan in the 19th century. The ground fabric is muslin, which the artist embroidered with colorful silk thread. She decorated the muslin with a variety of large and small plant forms using a changing pallet of reds and pinks. At first the change in color looks like it could have been due to abrash, or the way dye batches fade at varying rates, but on close inspection it appears that the embroiderer either chose to vary the color or was unable to find enough exactly matching thread. The end result is an eye-catching modulation in color in a classic design.

The Victoria and Albert Museum and the Minneapolis Institute of Art both have similar shawls from Sindh.