Thanjavur Ikat

 A little diversion from Tukaram Maharaj’s abhangas.

This is a special saree from Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu. The ikat in the warp of its borders is not something you see too often in Tamil Nadu weaves. I fell in love with this saree for several reasons. The lush silk, color, the design on the pallu, the feel and fall of the fabric and of course the colorful ikat on its borders makes it irresistible. It’s history makes it intriguing. But even without the history I would still love to drape this one over and over again. 

Information I got on this saree 👇🏼. 

“Silk, Warp Ikat, Supplementary warp and weft patterns, Thanjavur, Tamilnadu probably acquired from the Exposition Universelle, Paris, 1855

The magnificent ceremonial sari fell victim in the late 19th century to the Indian museum's policy of cutting up large textiles inorder to provide smaller pieces for study and circulation

Forbes Watson had included a part of this sari in his sample books of 'travelling museum' of Indian textile products as an example of 'woman's garment' from Thanjavur

The saree was 8 yards long. The extravagant elegance of this saree derives in part from the brilliant red silk of the field combined with deep yellow thicker silk in the pallu and also from the combination of Ikat with supplementary warp and weft patterns

In the main pallu, the silk is closely woven with additional bold horizontal stripes of supplementary weft patterns in floss silk

This type of sari with white checks on a red silk field is usually associated in South India with temple rituals or weddings.”