{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O18878"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O18878/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2018KY0081/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2018KY0081/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2018KY0081","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O18878/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O18878","accessionNumber":"0542(IS)","objectType":"Handkerchief","titles":[{"title":"Handkerchief","type":""}],"summaryDescription":"This delightful handkerchief is embroidered in white cotton thread with a repeating design of figures, palm trees and what appears to be railway carriages. Trains were popluar motifs in both embroidered and woven fabrics in Bengal in the 19th century. This type of fine white-on-white embroidery is known as chikan work, a term of unknown origin, and it was done mainly in Dhaka (today the capital of Bangladesh) and Calcutta in eastern India, and then in Lucknow.","physicalDescription":"White muslin handkerchief with a border of  'chikan' embroidery in white cotton and pink silk, depicting figures in a type of Muslim dress and early steam locomotives, palm trees and birds.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"muslin","id":"AAT14087"},{"text":"cotton","id":"x30425"},{"text":"silk","id":"x30127"}],"techniques":[{"text":"embroidered","id":"AAT53653"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"White muslin, with white cotton and pink silk embroidery","categories":[{"text":"ELISE","id":"THES48961"},{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"},{"text":"Accessories","id":"THES48998"},{"text":"India Museum","id":"THES286062"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2018KY0081"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES311999"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Handkerchief","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Kolkata","id":"x32018"},"association":{"text":"made","id":""},"note":""},{"place":{"text":"West Bengal","id":"x29846"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"c.1867","earliest":"1862-01-01","latest":"1871-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":""},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"42","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"approx.","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"42","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"approx.","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This example of 'chikan' embroidery was shown at the Paris Exhibition in 1867. Transferred from the India Museum in 1879. 1880 Register Entry: [Case 18] '0542. HANDKERCHIEF. Muslin, embroidered; Calcutta. 5721'. India Museum Slip book entry 5721: 'Pocket Handkerchief / Calcutta / 1867 / Price Rs.10 / Original nos. 1834 / chicken worked'.","historicalContext":"The East India Railway opened between Calcutta (Howrah) and Pandua in 1854.","briefDescription":"Handkerchief, with 'chikan' embroidery, Kolkata, West Bengal, c.1867","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Arts of Bengal : the heritage of Bangladesh and eastern India : an exhibition organized by the Whitechapel Art Gallery in collaboration with the Victoria and Albert Museum : 9 November-30 December 1979, Whitechapel Art Gallery ..., 12 January-17 February 1980, Manchester City Art Gallery ... . [London]: Whitechapel Art Gallery, [1979] Number: 085488047X (pbk.) :","id":"AUTH339757"},"details":"p.67","free":"\r\n"},{"reference":{"text":"Indian embroidery / Rosemary Crill ; photography by Richard Davis. London: V&A Publications, 1999 Number: 185177310X, 1851772944 (pbk.)","id":"AUTH332860"},"details":"p.57, cat. no. 46","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[{"text":"Paris Exhibition, 1867","id":"V34"}],"contentOthers":[{"text":"figures (representations)","id":"AAT189808"},{"text":"steam locomotives","id":"AAT228422"},{"text":"Palm trees","id":"x31894"},{"text":"bird","id":"x35043"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["0542(IS)"],"accessionNumberNum":"0542","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":null,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"India Museum Slip Book","id":"THES50388"},"number":"5721"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-08-19","recordCreationDate":"1999-12-22","availableToBook":true}}