Traded Treasure: Indian Trade Cloth, Influencing and Influenced by World Markets

India is renowned for the textiles it produced for centuries for world markets around the Indian Ocean, from Indonesia to the east coast of Africa and beyond, into the Mediterranean and Europe. Not only did the textiles from the market influence the Indian makers, but the local markets also began to produce textiles resembling the imports from India. Using the Parpiacollection as a starting point, Jeevak and Banoo Parpia (with examples drawn from their collection and others) will focus on several designs that exhibit continuity, and the likely influence of trade on design and demand.An example is the trade cloths that have strongly been influenced by Jain kalpasutra paintings, which often depict women in various roles. Yet, noneof the textiles featuring these images have been found in India, but havetravelled to Egypt and to Indonesia. Similarly, there is evidence of influences of Turkey on current patola design in India and also to Indonesia.

JEEVAK & BANOO PARPIA

Jeevak Parpia, Professor of Physics, Cornell University.

Banoo Parpia is retired Director of Asian and Middle East Alumni Affairs and Development at Cornell University.