Sash 1773 - 1794

This is an undated sash, likely from India, woven with silk and metal-wrapped thread. The floral motifs and the careful, repetitive arrangement of spots gives this object a formal, almost institutional feel. Sashes like this are not simply decorative; they are indicators of status. Their materiality speaks to the economics of global trade, of raw materials and manufacturing processes, and of the networks of exchange that made such items available to those who could afford them. Moreover, this sash speaks to the politics of imagery. Its patterns are not random; they are part of a visual language of power, and embody cultural and historical associations. Understanding these requires that we immerse ourselves in the relevant archives: trade records, colonial office documents, museum collections, and the first-hand accounts of those who wore and saw such items. Approaching art history in this way reminds us that the meanings of art are always contingent on social and institutional contexts.