Lot 367: A LARGE PICHWAI TEXTILE PAINTING DEPICTING A CEREMONIAL ELEPHANT.
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A large-scale Pichwai textile painting, likely cotton, depicting a caparisoned ceremonial elephant in profile facing left. The central figure is rendered in a walking pose with a raised trunk, finished in a white pigment with orange-toned shading along the trunk and underbelly. The elephant is elaborately adorned with traditional Indian processional regalia, including a dark embroidered headstall featuring a central floral motif, gold-coloured jewellery around the ears and tusks, and multiple strands of bells draped across the body and ankles. A large, ornate saddlecloth (jhul) covers the back, consisting of a dark central panel with a white speckled pattern and a central floral medallion, bordered by successive bands of green, red, and gold. The elephant stands upon a thin strip of green ground populated with small, stylized floral sprigs. The central composition is set against a light, neutral background and is framed by a broad reddish-brown border decorated with faint gilded floral sprays, all contained within a dark outer border.
Approximately 112 x 78cm
Condition report:
The textile exhibits signs of age and wear consistent with a period piece. There are prominent water stains and foxing (brown spotting) visible across the light-coloured central background (photo 1). The fabric shows visible creasing and undulation across the surface. General fading of pigments is apparent, particularly within the outer reddish-brown and dark borders. There is visible wear and fraying along the edges of the dark outer border, most notably at the corners (photo 1).
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