{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O143553"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O143553/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2007BM4956/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2007BM4956/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2007BM4956","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O143553/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O143553","accessionNumber":"2150A/(IS)","objectType":"Ikat length","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Central Asian ikat fabrics were woven in long lengths like this example and were then used to make larger textiles of one of two types. They were either made into clothing or enlarged and used as hangings around the home. Ikats were high status items, often made under the patronage of the courts. The complex and highly skilled method of production – a process of resist dyeing the silk threads before weaving – meant that ikats were labour-intensive and expensive to produce. For this reason ikat clothing was often reserved for special occasions such as weddings and funerals, and was also given by members of the court as ‘robes of honour’ (<i>khilat</i>) to thank or honour high-ranking guests. \r\n\r\nThis piece includes a <i>hamsa</i> motif repeated along both sides. <i>Hamsa</i>, literally means ‘five’ in Arabic, and is also referred to as the hand of Fatima, daughter of the Prophet Muhammad. The symbol represents the protective hand of God in both Jewish and Islamic iconography and was popularly used as an amulet. In a textile such as this, it simply has a positive association.","physicalDescription":"Narrow length of ikat fabric. The pattern consists of a central column of pink, purple and yellow heart shapes with pink and purple <i>hamsa</i> shapes down both sides.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[{"text":"ikat","id":"AAT249861"},{"text":"resist dyeing","id":"AAT53053"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silk and cotton warp ikat","categories":[{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"},{"text":"India Museum","id":"THES286062"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MES","id":"THES48607"},"images":["2007BM4956"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"017","id":"THES312444"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Dress fabric","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Central Asia","id":"x35011"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"before 1875","earliest":null,"latest":"1874-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"396.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"29","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"The earliest dated Central Asian ikats in the UK are from the Shaw collection at the Ashmolean Museum, which are known to date from before 1868. The V&A’s collection of lengths of ikat fabrics came into the collection in 1880 from the India Office. Documentation handed over with them record that they were purchased on two separate occasions, the first group in Kabul in 1870 and the second (including this piece) in Yarkand (modern-day Shache in China) in April 1875. We can therefore date these textiles to prior to these acquisition years.","historicalContext":"The ‘golden age’ of nineteenth century Central Asian ikats is closely bound up with the economic and cultural dynamism of the cities which produced it – such as Samarkand and Bukhara, in modern-day Uzbekistan, and Kabul and Kunduz in Afghanistan. Large neighbourhoods existed to house the dyers, weavers, binders and designers whose collaborative activity went into the making of ikat fabrics.\r\n\r\nCentral Asian ikat fabrics were woven in long lengths like this example and were then used to make larger textiles of one of two types. They were either made into clothing or enlarged and used as hangings around the home. Ikats were high status items, often made under the patronage of the courts. The complex and highly skilled method of production – a process of resist dyeing the silk threads before weaving – meant that ikats were labour-intensive and expensive to produce. For this reason ikat clothing was often reserved for special occasions such as weddings and funerals, and was also given by members of the court as ‘robes of honour’ (<i>khilat</i>) to thank or honour high-ranking guests.","briefDescription":"Narrow length of ikat fabric with a pattern of pink, purple and yellow heart shapes and pink and purple <i>hamsas</i>.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Clark, Ruby <u>Central Asian Ikats</u>, V&A Publications, London, 2007. 96 p. : ill. (chiefly col.) ISBN:  9781851775255 (pbk.) 1851775250 (pbk.) \r\np. 87"}],"production":"Acquired in Yarkand (modern-day Shache in China) in 1875","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"hearts (motifs)","id":"AAT9874"},{"text":"hamsa","id":"x35780"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Ikat length with heart shapes and hamsa design on white background\r\nAcquired Yarkand, 1875\r\nSilk and cotton\r\nMuseum no. 2150A (IS)\r\n\r\nThe hamsa, meaning ‘five’ in Arabic, is also referred to as the hand of Fatima, daughter of the Prophet Muhammad. The symbol represents the protective hand of God in both Jewish and Islamic iconography and was popularly used as an amulet. In a textile it simply has a positive association.","date":{"text":"05/11/2007 to 30/03/2008","earliest":"2007-11-05","latest":"2008-03-30"}}],"partNumbers":["2150A/(IS)"],"accessionNumberNum":"2150","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":null,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"India Museum Slip Book","id":"THES50388"},"number":"13,017"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-08-18","recordCreationDate":"2008-01-16","availableToBook":true}}