Fly Mask from India

This fly mask from India is made by the Sind. A lot of the finest work comes from these people.

The bright yellow dye is when natural, made from the blossom of the myrobalan tree of the combretaceae family boiled in a solution with the bark of the mango tree. An Alum usually forms the mordant for setting the dye.

This has been decorated with tufts of red, black and been cotton rows of black and white beads and shells. The top four mirror are missing. The weaving is extremely intricate. Old.

19” (48 cm ) x 11.5”(29 cm)

Provenance: purchased from John Gillow by private collection 2008 approx value £45