Human world
Velvet huqqa (water pipe) mat with metal wire embroidery zardosi
Accession No: 54.49.88
Zardosi embroidery is made with metal threads. The method began in Portugal but was adopted in India. This 19th century mat was placed underneath an Indian water pipe, or huqqa.
For at least 2000 years India has traded fine muslin and brilliantly dyed cotton for precious metal and silk.
In the 17th century the British East India Company exported Indian textiles on a large scale.
Today there are over ten million handloom weavers, block printers, textile painters, dyers and embroiderers across India.