Author, lecturer, traveller and collector, John Gillow is returning to Te Papa to lecture on the “Kantha Quilts of Bengal”.
Faridpur kantha early 20th Century. Image courtesy of John Gillow.
John has one of the world’s largest collections of these outstanding quilts and has recently written the catalogue for a forthcoming major Kantha exhibition at the Mingei International Museum in San Diego in 2017.
Kanthas are stitched, predominantly for marriages using layers of worn muslin saris and dhotis as the base material. Each kantha is a unique work of art depicting life in late 19th Century and early 20th Century Bengal.
Kanthas and other textiles from John’s collection will be for sale at the end of the lecture.
Online bookings have now closed.
Door sales will be available on the day from 3.15pm. Plenty of seats available.
Feature image: Detail from: Stitching a kantha near Bogra, Bangladesh. Image courtesy of John Gillow