An Embroidered Summer Carpet or Coverlet, Gujarat, North West India, 18th century

of rectangular form the cream silk ground finely embroidered in chain stitch with a central cusped medallion, decorated throughout with scrolling tendrils issuing flowerheads divided by narrow chain bands, cusped cartouche spandrels, enclosed by scrolling floral borders, linen backing

In good overall condition, areas of staining to ground and wear to threads, as viewed
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A very similar coverlet is in the Collection des Arts Décoratifs in the Louvre, see Paris 2007, p.206, cat. 222. Alexander Hamilton in the eighteenth century observed that the people of Cambay 'embroider the best of any people in India, perhaps the world' (Barnes, Cohen & Crill 2004, p.100). These professional embroiders from Cambay would have been from the Mochi community.

Gujarati embroideries of this quality were used within the Mughal court or exported to Europe from the sixteenth century onwards. Mughal miniatures often depict courtiers seated on embroidered silk ground textiles that were used during the summer months as a cooler alternative to the carpet. An early-eighteenth-century Mughal miniature by Dalchand in the Cynthia Polsky collection (illustrated in Topsfield 2004 p.326, no.144) depicts two ladies on a terrace seated on a similar embroidered summer carpet. 

The Portuguese were initially responsible for introducing these fine embroidered textiles to Europe with the trade continuing into the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries under the supervision of the East India Company. Company records indicate that factors were given instructions to source 'quilts and carpets of all sorts made about Cambaya and other places' (I.O. Archives, Factory Records Miscellaneous, vol. 25, p. 19). Materials were recorded as 'callicoe embroidered with sundrie silks.'