{"product_id":"muga-silk-tribal-shawl-simple-border-pattern","title":"Muga Silk Tribal Shawl - Simple Border Pattern","description":"\u003cp\u003eHand loomed vintage muga silk sari shawl, called \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' data-processed=\"true\" data-subtree=\"aimfl\"\u003ethe chador\u003c\/span\u003e or upper shawl portion of a traditional Assamese two-piece dress known as the mekhela chador. Purchased in person from the renowned Sualkuchi Village near Guwahati, Assam, northeast India, in 2002. Made up of 100% muga silk in both warp and weft. Finished with a rich tribal Assamese pattern woven in cotton and silk thread.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 12px 0px 16px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' data-processed=\"true\" data-complete=\"true\" data-hveid=\"CAAIBBAA\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-cp=\"\"\u003eThis classic style is know as a heirloom Plain-Body Chador\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e (\u003cem\u003eBuku Thoka Chador\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e).\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 12px 0px 16px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' data-processed=\"true\" data-complete=\"true\" data-hveid=\"CAAIBRAA\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-cp=\"\"\u003eThe omission of small motifs (\u003cem\u003ebutas\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e) on the body \u003cspan data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' data-complete=\"true\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-cp=\"\"\u003eemphasises the natural texture and golden sheen of the silk and\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' data-complete=\"true\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-cp=\"\"\u003e creates a striking contrast to the the heavy end-borders (a\u003cem\u003eanchal\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e or palav\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e) rich with visual detail. \u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003eThe border design on this piece features a disciplined, microscopic geometric layout that requires a high level of thread-counting precision. The main border field (\u003cem\u003emiri bota grid\u003c\/em\u003e) \u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\u003cspan data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' data-complete=\"true\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-cp=\"\"\u003eis a dense, repeating pattern composed of tiny, interlocking double-layered diamonds\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e. \u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\u003cspan data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' data-complete=\"true\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-cp=\"\"\u003eThis grid is deeply rooted in the traditional geometric weaving of the Mising (Miri) community\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e of Assam. It represents the c\u003cem\u003ehang ghar\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e (traditional stilt houses built over water), where the criss-crossing bamboo lattices provide structure and strength. \u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003eThe sawtooth framing line runs\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\u003cspan data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' data-complete=\"true\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-cp=\"\"\u003e horizontally across the top of the heavy red border as a sharp, jagged, geometric zig-zag line. K\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' data-complete=\"true\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-cp=\"\"\u003enown as the \u003cem\u003ekharika\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e (thatch grass or twig motif) or a stylized \u003cem\u003ekoka\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e (chevron), in Assamese folklore it represents either jagged mountain peaks or the protective perimeter fences surrounding rural villages, functioning as a symbolic boundary that protects the core design. \u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\u003cspan data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' data-complete=\"true\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-cp=\"\"\u003eBelow the main grid sit two thick red horizontal stripes, capped by hand-knotted cream fringes. \u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\u003cspan data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' data-complete=\"true\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-cp=\"\"\u003eThese lines are called \u003cem\u003eguni\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e or \u003cem\u003epaari\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e stripes. They anchor the entire textile both visually and physically, preventing the ends of the hand-loomed silk yarn from unraveling while framing the design.\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' data-processed=\"true\" data-complete=\"true\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-cp=\"\"\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' data-processed=\"true\" data-complete=\"true\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-cp=\"\"\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' data-processed=\"true\" data-complete=\"true\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-cp=\"\"\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; margin: 24px 0px 12px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' data-sae=\"\" data-processed=\"true\" data-complete=\"true\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-animation-nesting=\"\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"3\"\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 12px 0px 16px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' data-processed=\"true\" data-complete=\"true\" data-hveid=\"CAAIEhAA\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-cp=\"\"\u003eThe choice of colour palette is also significant - a traditional combination of crimson red\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e paired with charcoal black. \u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003eBecause the body is plain gold, the weaver intentionally saturated the borders using thick, extra-weft cotton or silk threads. The mathematical symmetry of this dense grid (woven without dropped or misaligned threads) shows that the weaver mapped each spacing precisely.\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 12px 0px 16px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' data-processed=\"true\" data-complete=\"true\" data-hveid=\"CAAIEhAA\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-cp=\"\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' data-processed=\"true\" data-complete=\"true\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-cp=\"\"\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' data-processed=\"true\" data-complete=\"true\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-cp=\"\"\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn regards to the acquisition of this and our other muga\/endi silk textiles, they were purchased by us in 2002 in person from the village of Sualkuchi. They were woven during what is now considered to be the golden age of Assamese silk weaving, at a time when the renowned and famous blind Master Weaver was resident at the village.  \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e Our textiles are nearly a quarter-century old, making them true vintage heirlooms and exceptionally special. As discussed later, \u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\u003cspan data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' data-complete=\"true\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-cp=\"\"\u003eMuga silk has a unique biological property in that it never fades, but rather its natural golden-yellow luster deepens and grows richer with age and washings. Our 24-year-old Muga pieces are in the process of developing a warm, honeyed patina that brand-new pieces cannot replicate. \u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\u003cspan data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' data-complete=\"true\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-cp=\"\"\u003eThe early 2000s also predated the influx of cheaper, power-loom lookalikes, synthetic blends, and chemical dyes that began to flood the market later on. Our pieces represent a period of uncompromised handloom heritage. We may not carry the \"authentication\" serial numbers that current pieces have, but we absolutely predate the need for that authentication.\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|[]--\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the time of our visit we were privileged to meet the blind Master Weaver as he went from loom to loom, touching each piece of textile and discussing with the weavers any adjustments to tension and pattern that he required. \u003cspan data-copy-service-computed-style='font-family: \"Google Sans\", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 0px rgb(10, 10, 10);' aria-owns=\"action-menu-parent-container\" data-complete=\"true\" data-sfc-cb=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-cp=\"\"\u003eMeeting him at this time means we caught him during a golden era of weaving craftsmanship.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMuga silk (along with Endi or Eri silk) is one of the two rarest and most exclusive silks in the world. It is produced almost exclusively in the Brahmaputra Valley of Assam, India, the only location in the world where the \u003cem\u003eAntheraea assamensis\u003c\/em\u003e silkworm is found and feeds only on the leaves of four plants predominantly from the \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eLauraceae family.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMuga silk is characterised by a distinctive golden luster. It is never bleached or dyed, the golden colour being derived entirely from the natural diet of the muga silk worm. As a result, muga silk is one of the strongest natural fibers in the world. Muga saris are considered heirloom textiles and are said to last through the lifetimes of three generations of women, with repeated washings actually increasing the fabric's shine rather than causing it to fade or deteriorate. As a result, muga silk is often called the Golden Treasure of Assam.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003ca href=\"(http:\/\/csb.gov.in\/silk-sericulture\/silk\/vanya-silk\/)\" title=\"muga silk worm cultivation\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ecultivation of the wild muga silk worm\u003c\/a\u003e, the extraction of the silk threads and the hand weaving of the cloth, with its beautifully tight weave and intricate decoration, is precise and difficult. As a result, muga silk clothing was historically the almost exclusive precinct of the royal family of Assam. Even today, muga silk saris are the ultimate choice for celebrations such as weddings, religious events and festivals. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMeasurements\u003c\/strong\u003e: Width 98 cm x length 188 cm\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThis chador\u003cem\u003e \u003c\/em\u003etextile can be worn as is as a beautiful and very full wrap over contemporary clothing or made into a dress, trousers or skirt. It would also make a very attractive wall hanging or bed throw. \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"ui-toolkit\" id=\"shop-about\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Kashgar","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42432111804496,"sku":null,"price":650.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1860\/6331\/files\/Mugatribalsaritwo3.jpg?v=1780385422","url":"https:\/\/kashgar.com.au\/products\/muga-silk-tribal-shawl-simple-border-pattern","provider":"Kashgar","version":"1.0","type":"link"}