Kanakchoor Coasters

Traditionally speaking Kantha, as an art form, is considered colloquial, an occupation of women. It lacks the rich history that chikenkari, pitaiwork or zardozdi has in India. Kantha uses the rudimentary running stitch as its base, oftentimes in combinations to create patterns and sometimes to fill shapes and figures.

Intricately embroidered blankets, made using a patchwork of old sarees and other textiles were part of the wedding trousseau for young brides, usually made by the women of the bride’s family. These would depict scenes from nature or everyday domestic life and many of them had a narrative built into them. For our coasters, we decidedly chose to name them after an indigenous rice, because what’s more quintessentially Bengali? The Kanakchoor coasters are embroidered in a rice grain kantha, that add texture and movement, the randomness is reminiscent scattered rice on a plate.