Antique Rajasthani Indigo Resist Cloth – Scrolling Vines & Leaves, 2 Panels Wide

A graceful indigo cloth alive with movement—its scrolling vines and dotted leaves unfurl across the surface like a garden in motion.

Created in Rajasthan using the dabu mud-resist process, this textile features the region’s signature dot-based outlines, where artisans use resist paste to create thousands of tiny points rather than continuous carved lines. This method gives the motifs a lively, shimmering quality. The cloth is stitched from two handwoven panels of roughly 18–20" width, consistent with the pit-loom traditions common in Bagru and surrounding textile villages.

The indigo tone—soft, matte, and slightly chalky—is characteristic of natural-dye applications and age. On the reverse, you can see the handwoven structure clearly, another indicator of mid-century Rajasthani production. The selvages are lightly finished, without the Japanese kasuri binding threads, further supporting this attribution. From the 1930s–1960s, India exported large amounts of dabu yardage to Japan, where fabrics like this were used for futon-covers and household linens; the size and wear suggest this textile followed that route.

Whether displayed whole or used for creative projects, this piece offers remarkable versatility—perfect for patchwork, quilting, visible mending, soft furnishings, or apparel details.

Age: Estimated 1930s–1950s, based on weaving width, indigo dye characteristics, dotted resist motifs, and known export patterns to Japan during the mid-century period.

Dimensions: 39" × 82.75" (99 × 210 cm)
Panel count: 2 panels wide (standard Rajasthani pit-loom width ~18–20" each)

Made in Rajasthan, India