AGE-OLD WEAVES
The Jagdish and Kamla Mittal Museum of Indian Art organised an exhibition to showcase a wide variety of Indian textiles
Giving Hyderabadis a glimpse of age old textiles is Tansukh, an exhibition organised by Jagdish and Kamla Mittal Museum of Indian Art. From Patola, Kantha, Chamba Rumaal to Kashmiri shawls and Telia Rumal, the 3-day exhibition has it all. Some of the pieces, which are as old as 200 years, are a collector’s delight!
At the exhibition, a Hyderabadi shawl which was made for the Mughals, priced at `15 lakh, and the limited-edition saris by artist Parmeshwar Raju, priced at `1 lakh each, stood out. Though many of the exhibits are not in mint condition, collectors who understand their history are showing keen interest, says Tanushree Agarwal, who is helping her father, Kishan Agarwal, display all the old textiles he has been collecting over the years. She adds, “My grandfather was a collector. A lot of what is on display at the museum has been collected by my grandfather and father. This is the first time that such an event is being held, giving people the much-needed knowledge about various Indian textiles.”
Back in December 1946, when I was a student in Shantiniketan, I went to a festival. Over there, I noticed a fisherman with an embroidered piece of cloth on the basket he was carrying. I quietly followed him and when there was no one around, I told him that I liked the design and asked if he would want to sell it. He said he would sell it for `3, but I had `5 so I gave him the money and without thanking him I turned back. I was afraid that he would ask me to return it. JAGDISH MITTAL, on his first textile collection
Their family’s collection has over 500 pieces. Talking about how it is preserved, Tanushree says, “These pieces are wrapped in malmal cloth and put in boxes.” She also adds that most of her clients are not from the city, but from other parts of the country and outside India.
Uma, the granddaughter of renowned artist Jagdish Mittal, says that the reason behind organising such an event is to educate people about various Indian textiles. “It’s a serious seminar giving people details about the many kinds of Indian textiles. We have a fabulous collection of fabrics from all around the country. The idea is to educate more people about Indian textiles.”
There are also works of master weaver Ghanshyam Sarode’s Uppada Saris Pvt Ltd. on display, which includes Uppada, Ikat and Khadi saris among others. One of his works has been inspired by an 18th century design, which was once on display at a museum in Boston. Apart from these, the exhibition also has books on various Indian textiles, including a few coauthored by Jagdish Mittal himself. The three-day seminar has interesting topics about various Indian textiles, along with cultural programmes.
My grandfather was a collector. A lot of what is on display at the museum has been collected by him and my father — TANUSHREE AGARWAL