Woven masterpieces of Sikh heritage : the stylistic development of the Kashmir shawl under Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839) /
Ames, Frank.
Antique Collectors' Club.
Woodbridge, Suffolk : Antique Collectors' Club,
c2010.
In this new, ground-breaking work, Woven Masterpieces of Sikh Heritage, Frank Ames' unique passion for the subject reveals the events and ideas that transpired within this Khalsa (Sikh Brotherhood) movement, transforming the Kashmir shawl to one of powerful ethnic proportions. During this era of Punjab's colourful history a variety of complex and enigmatic patterns emerged, some purely geometric, others symbolic, which have long eluded textiles experts.  Maharaja Runjit Singh's takeover of Kashmir in 1819 had an extraordinary impact on the fashion of the legendary Kashmir shawl, giving rise to "a major artistic expression in the subcontinent". Through the exploration of miniature painting of Northern India and the hill states, Kashmiri manuscripts, the Sikh Holy Scriptures of the Sri Adi Granth and Janam Sakhis, and illustrations of unique shawls from world collections, Ames describes with his usual penchant for exacting detail the nature and source of these enigmatic patterns that define the Sikh period. In addition, textile enthusiasts will discover new material in chapters devoted to the Mughal period, lacquer painting and Indo-Persian shawl influences and trade.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 245-249) and index.
Ch. 1. A synoptic overview -- Ch. 2. General classification -- Ch. 3. The development of the Mughal style -- Ch. 4. The development of the Sikh style -- Ch. 5. Kashmir manuscripts -- Ch. 6. Persia and Kashmir : a cross fertilization of two cultures -- Ch. 7. Some further musings on the Boteh -- Epilogue.
In this new, ground-breaking work, Woven Masterpieces of Sikh Heritage, Frank Ames' unique passion for the subject reveals the events and ideas that transpired within this Khalsa (Sikh Brotherhood) movement, transforming the Kashmir shawl to one of powerful ethnic proportions. During this era of Punjab's colourful history a variety of complex and enigmatic patterns emerged, some purely geometric, others symbolic, which have long eluded textiles experts.  Maharaja Runjit Singh's takeover of Kashmir in 1819 had an extraordinary impact on the fashion of the legendary Kashmir shawl, giving rise to "a major artistic expression in the subcontinent". Through the exploration of miniature painting of Northern India and the hill states, Kashmiri manuscripts, the Sikh Holy Scriptures of the Sri Adi Granth and Janam Sakhis, and illustrations of unique shawls from world collections, Ames describes with his usual penchant for exacting detail the nature and source of these enigmatic patterns that define the Sikh period. In addition, textile enthusiasts will discover new material in chapters devoted to the Mughal period, lacquer painting and Indo-Persian shawl influences and trade.
Ranjit Singh, Maharaja of the Punjab, 1780-1839
Cashmere shawls
Sikh art