About this lot
Description
A Kushutara Kira, Bhutan, circa 1972-76,
multiple geometric designs, worked in raw silk of mixed pigments on handspun cotton, 130 x 242cm
Provenance:
Mrs Joy Watkin, by whom gifted to Her Royal Highness Ashi Kesang, the Queen Mother, circa 1972-76
acquired by Alain Rouveure in the early 1980s
Exhibited:
Venice, Textiles du Bhutan pour Expo Venise, 2014
Footnote:
The present lot was gifted by the Queen Mother, Her Royal Highness Ashi Kesang Choden, to Mrs Joy Watkin, on one of her numerous visits to the Royal Palace. Whilst the Queen Mother was known to receive guests in her private bedroom, close friends, such as Mrs Watkin, the wife of the private doctor of the Royal family of Bhutan and Sikkim, were often invited to sit at the end of the bed. Despite the seemingly informal nature of these visits, however, strict Royal etiquette was observed by other means, with all guests, including close friends and foreign visitors, being required to wear Bhutanese national dress. At each visit, the female guests would be gifted with a new Kira and the men with a Gho. To avoid any embarrassment, servants were allocated to each guest to ensure the complicated folds at the back of the garments were presentable to the court.
Woven in the workshop of Her Royal Highness Ashi Kesang Choden, the design of this Kushutara Kira was exclusive to the Queen Mother and could not be replicated elsewhere.
Condition report:
Very good overall
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