1826 / 1875, Sindh

1826 / 1875, Sindh

Identifier
6047(IS)
Collection
Material
Technique
Depiction
Dimension
133 cm (length)
85 cm (width)
Production time
Production place
Type of object

Description

These trousers are made of fine striped silk fabric, and are cut loose around the waist and thighs, but taper to a close-fitting lower section that is typical of the Indian subcontinent. This narrow section would often be wrinkled up to the knee in a style called chiridar, which means 'with bangles'. In more recent times, this narrow leg section would be bias-cut to give a more clinging effect, but surviving nineteenth-century trousers all seem to have straight-cut legs. On this pair, the decorative effect is concentrated on the simple but elegant embroidered cuff. The trousers would be worn with a long, straight shirt, probably also with embroidered decoration. Silk striped woman's trousers, Pakistan, mid 19th century. Purple silk trousers with white stripes and white embroidery at the cuffs