Page:The Industrial Arts of India.djvu/220

 figures are cut out in separate pieces of silk or cloth, and sewn on to the stuff to be embroidered. These draps entaillez are obviously the origin of the Persian carpets of Mashhad. The parrots, rabbits, tigers, and fawns, represented upon them have evidently been imitated from figures of these birds and beasts cut in cloth for applique work.

In many parts of India muslin is very beautifully embroidered with green beetle wings and gold. In the Prince’s Collection is a piece of muslin embroidered in gold and painted spangles and imitation pearls, with a perfect effect of reality and richness. Leather is beautifully embroidered at Phaka in Sindh. The embroidered leather work of Gujarat has already been noticed. Marco Polo, bk. iii, ch. xxvi, writing of “ Gozurat,” says : “They also work here beautiful mats in red and blue leather, exquisitely inlaid with figures of birds and beasts, and skilfully embroidered with gold and silver wire. They are marvellously beautiful things ; they are used by the Saracens to sleep upon, and capital they are for that purpose .” This was written 600 years ago, and is still as true to the work described as if it had come by the last mail from Bombay. But the most wonderful piece of embroidery ever known was the chadar or veil made by order of Kunderao, the late Gaekwar of Baroda, for the tomb of Mahommed at Medina. It was composed entirely of inwrought pearls and precious stones, disposed in an arabesque pattern, and is said to have cost a crore [ = ten millions] of rupees. Although the richest stones were worked into it, the effect was most harmonious. When spread out in the sun it seemed suffused with a general iridescent pearly bloom, as grateful to the eyes as were the exquisite forms of its arabesques. Carpets. Indian carpets are of two kinds, cotton and woollen. Gener- ally they are classed as cotton darts and satrangis, and woollen