Kimkhwab (Kim-Khwab, kamkhāb, ḳamkhwāb, Kimkhwab, Hiranya, puspapata) is an ancient Indian brocade art of weaving ornate cloth with gold, silver, and silk yarns. Kinkhwab is a silk damasked cloth with an art of zar-baft (making cloth of gold),[1] The weave produces beautiful floral designs that appear embroidered on the surface of the fabric. it was also known as puspapata or cloth with woven flowers.[2][3][4][5]
Kimkhwab is a fabric of silk with leaves and branches woven in it "Kamkwabs, or kimkhwabs (Kincob), are also known as zar-baft (gold-woven), and mushajjar (having patterns)."—Yusuf Ali[6] The mushajjar is also mentioned in Ain-i-Akbari.
Name
edit“Kimkhwab” is a Persian word that means a little dream.
Hiranya means cloth of gold, as mentioned in Vedas (c. 1500 BC). And in It is called puspapata during Gupta empire (4th–6th century AD).[4]
Etymology
editKimkhwāb derived from Persian. kam-khwāb,[7] 'less sleep,' because such cloth is rough and prevents sleep! "The ordinary derivation of the word supposes that a man could not even dream of it who had not seen it (kam, 'little,' khwāb, 'dream')".[8]
Platts and the Madras Gloss. take it from kam, 'little,' khwāb, 'nap.'[8]
Texture
editThe art has a flavor of Arab-Persian culture in it. The fabric was woven with tapestry weave, Kimkhwab was nearly thick because of its metallic yarns and patterns, but some fine qualities were also there, especially for wealthy people.[2] Most of the patterns were floral, nature inspired such as plants such as the poppy, and pine tree, etc.
Manufacturing
editKimkhwab work of Varanasi, Surat was famous in the Mughal Empire from 1556 to 1707.[9] Two more centers, Aurangabad and Paithan, were also noted for their production. The value was priced with contents of gold, silver, or silk and motifs.[2][10]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Steingass, F. (2018-10-24). Persian-English Dictionary: Including Arabic Words and Phrases in Persian Literature. Routledge. p. 614. ISBN 978-1-136-85241-1.
- ^ a b c Qazi, Moin (2014). Woven Wonders of the Deccan. Notion Press. ISBN 978-93-83808-62-5.
- ^ Students' Britannica India: I to M (Iblis to Mira Bai). Encyclopaedia Britannica (India). 2000. p. 238.
- ^ a b Editors, Britannica; inc, Encyclopaedia Britannica (2003). The New Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. p. 866. ISBN 978-0-85229-961-6.
{{cite book}}:|last1=has generic name (help) - ^ Encyclopedia of India: I to Mira Bai. Encyclopaedia Britannica (India) Pvt. Limited. 2008. p. 237. ISBN 978-81-8131-008-8.
- ^ Burnell, A. C.; Yule, Henry (2018-10-24). Hobson-Jobson: Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words And Phrases. Routledge. p. 983. ISBN 978-1-136-60331-0.
- ^ Shakespear, John (1834). A Dictionary Hindustani and English. Parbury, Allen and Co. pp. 1367, 1368.
- ^ a b Yule, Henry; Burnell, A. C. (2013-06-13). Hobson-Jobson: The Definitive Glossary of British India. OUP Oxford. p. 299. ISBN 978-0-19-164583-9.
- ^ Mukherjee, Soma (2001). Royal Mughal Ladies and Their Contributions. Gyan Books. p. 10. ISBN 978-81-212-0760-7.
- ^ Hazārah, Fayz Muhammad Kātib (2012-12-19). The History of Afghanistan (6 Vol. Set): Fay? Mu?ammad K?tib Haz?rah's Sir?j Al-taw?r?kh. BRILL. p. 1937. ISBN 978-90-04-23491-8.