Choga - Robe sikh
India, Punjab, circa 1850-1870
Men's dress (choga) in purple cotton and silk, richly embroidered in gold and silver thread borders with paisley motifs. Lined in red satin with a green silk border. (Wear and stains).
H. 135 cm. Sleeve length: 159 cm
The heavy gold embroidery from northern India is typical of work done in the Panjab during the 19th century. The loose dress itself is originally a Central Asian type, characterized by a simple cut and a colored lining with a contrasting color facing. Dresses of this type are generally not worn closed, or are fastened by a belt wrapped around the waist, so these large, decorative gold-thread ties would have been intended primarily for decoration.
