Syaahi Bangalori Silk Multicolor Artistic Wall Hanging

What scene does the panel show?

The centre panel is a framed scene of figures, birds and a tree on an ochre ground, drawn in the style of Kalamkari. The motifs are large, so the scene reads clearly from across a room, and small touches of blue, green, pink and purple pick out the faces, feathers and leaves.

What does the border look like?

A band of orange flowers and leaves runs along two edges, with a plain cream margin beyond it. The cream gives the busy painted scene some breathing room, so the eye settles on the figures and birds in the middle rather than on the edges.

What fabric is it painted on?

It is painted on Bangalori silk, a fabric from Bangalore known for its smooth texture. The work is handcrafted at our Kalamkari unit in Mangalagiri by Master Artisan Jyothi, so every outline and every fill of colour on it was put there with a brush.

Which room would it suit?

The warm ochre and mustard tones sit comfortably against white, cream or earthy walls, and the large figures hold their own above a sofa, a console table or a bed. It also works well in an entrance or a corridor, where someone walking past can take in the whole scene in one look.

How should I clean it?

Gentle handwash only, and wash it separately rather than with other fabrics. Because the colours on this hanging are applied by hand on silk, a gentle wash on its own is the way to look after it.

Will mine look exactly like the picture?

The colours you see may differ slightly depending on your screen or display. The piece is also painted entirely by hand, so small irregularities in line and colour are part of it, and no two hangings come out quite the same. Those little differences are the mark of handmade work, not a fault.