Decoding an Anomalous Gujarati Chakla
This post is dedicated to an unusual piece I found online a few months ago, the chakla shown here, which was probably made in Gujarat State, Western India.
The chakla measures 11 ½” wide by 14 ¾” tall, and it is made of European glass beads united in peyote stitch.
Chaklas are decorative wall pieces that are hung on the walls of the home or over a door to beautify the home and attract positive energies.
I could tell that this chakla wasn’t too old, maybe from the mid-20th century, but I also knew that it wasn’t typical for Gujarati…
The Thoughtful Beadworker
Introduction to My Blog
I’ll be posting notes every few days on my favorite topic: beadwork. Sometimes I’ll talk about the beadwork my western colleagues and I make, but more often, I’ll be featuring the beadwork of other times and cultures in hopes of expanding our understanding of the world, its people, and ourselves.
I’ve named the blog “The Thoughtful Beadworker” after a character in an ancient Chinese legend, a bead-stringer, who despite his humble social status and menial occupation gives valuable advice to a troubled king.*
In my experience, non-beadworkers tend to assume that beadwork is a tedious process. For me…
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