A CEREMONIAL MASNAD (CANOPY) COVER
Possibly Punjab, North India, late 19th century

The ground of burgundy velvet heavily raised-worked in metallic yellow thread wound around a silk core and spangles, with a central lozenge encompassing floral repeats, the field with star-shaped and stylised flowerheads, the corners with tear-drop motifs verging towards the centre, the broad border of fawn velvet worked in a scrolling frieze, the outer border mostly in couched metal threads with raised burgundy velvet flower cores, the inner edge with brocaded tape, 208cm x 198cm.