Cleveland Museum of Art

Loin Cloth "Pha nung" or Cloth for Wrapped Garment

Date

late 1800s-early 1900s

Medium

tabby weave, mordant resist and batik; cotton

Culture

India, East Coast, late 19th - early 20th century

Department

Textiles

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Indian craftsmen developed great skill in resist dyeing using both mordants (chemicals that fix dyes) and wax, or some other resist. When mordants were selectively drawn, painted, or printed onto cotton, only those portions of the fabric would accept the dye. In this textile, this technique has been combined with wax resist batik that prevented dyes from penetrating treated portions of the fabric. Indian textiles made for export were patterned with designs and colors that suited the tastes of the markets for which they were produced. This cloth was made for export to Thailand where lattice designs were preferred. While this particular textile would have been used as a wrapped garment, Indian textiles in Thailand served also as room dividers, coverings for floors, and hangings.

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