Phulkari II
Phulkari II
DETAILS:
The Phulkari II accent pillow is a wonderful example of folk embroidery from Punjab, India. Phulkari translates to floral work, and this piece is embellished by mirror work which adds a delightful sparkle. Accenting this fabric is a vintage handwoven huipil, the traditional garment of Indigenous Guatemalan women, with colorful small floral and geometric motifs on a dark brown cotton background. In addition to the floral textiles is a whimsical ikat textile featuring a prancing horse and a chicken woven on the island of Sumba, Indonesia, which speaks to the culture of the Sumbanese. This one-of-a-kind decorative pillow with its floral patterns and earth-tone color palette will bring a bit of nature into any setting.
20” x 20”
Front – cotton
Back – linen, in beige
Zipper closure
Down feather insert
Fabric origins: Pakistan, Indonesia, Guatemala
THE STORY:
This is such a rich and unique pillow with a combination of complementary fabrics. The Phulkari section features bold beige and taupe flower embroidery dramatically outlined in Dutch orange thread on umber-colored fabric. The beautifully-stitched shisha mirror work highlights the incredible embroidery. The embroidery is framed and accented with a contemporary zigzag stitch. This embroidery technique is from the Punjab region of Pakistan. Phulkari means “flower work” and was at one time used as the word for embroidery. My friend, Fahad, sends me the embroidery. His organization, Dominion Traders, has been a long-time partner of SERRV International. Unfortunately, I had to cancel several work trips to Pakistan due to U.S. State Department travel advisories. Someday I will meet these women and Fahad!
The fabric below the Phulkari is from a vintage huipil, the traditional dress worn by indigenous women in Chuarrancho, Guatemala. It is part of a collection of huipils and other fabrics I collected during the seven years I lived in Guatemala. This fabric, woven on a backstrap loom, has a dark brown background with rows of flowers, ducks, and other motifs woven with a supplementary weft technique. It is rich in earth tones and bright colors.
On the left is fabric from the island of Samba, Indonesia, where the Sumbanese are masters of ikat design, dyeing, and weaving. Their imagery is taken from the island’s belief system, natural surroundings, and daily life. The horse motif is commonly used as it is the customary mount of the Sumbanese men. The traditional red and brownish-purple colors have been used for centuries. The dye is made from the outer bark of the roots of the morinda tree, otherwise known as Indian Mulberry or Noni. It is a labor-intensive process to achieve these colors. I was introduced to the incredible ikat technique during my first trip to Indonesia in 1992 which to this day still remains one of my favorite textiles. Unfortunately, I did not travel to Sumba but was able to acquire several pieces of fabric.