Vintage "Ralli" quilt - handmade tribal bed throw | rare patchwork quilt - Sindh Gypsies in Rajastan

Handmade patchwork quilt very rare vintage Ralli Quilt - bed spread - bed runner from the Sindh Gypsies

India is a land of vibrant colors, diverse cultures, unique traditions, and a plethora of festivals. The Indian textile arts beautifully reflect all these aspects of the country. This handmade vintage Ralli quilt is a truly rare textile treasure. Traditionally, rallis were made for family members to use on special occasions such as weddings, dowries, and as gifts. In recent decades, women have also started using their skills in quilt-making to earn money for themselves and their families.

"Ralli quilts are traditional quilts made by women in the areas of Sindh, Pakistan and western India, and in surrounding areas. They are just now gaining international recognition, even though women have been making these quilts for hundreds, maybe thousands of years . Rallis are a cultural symbol for the regions where they are made. The most common uses are for a bedcover (used on the traditional wooden charpoy bed) or as small bag or eating cloth. Traditionally rallis were made at home, from recycled and hand dyed cotton cloth, for use by the family." source: wikipedia

This specific Ralli is made from many separate dyed cotton patches, which are sewn together to create one piece. The back piece is decorated with "pom poms" at the ends, and the entire piece is fully embroidered with a running stitch by hand. Ama, the person sitting next to me in the pictures, made this Ralli. Unfortunately, due to slowly losing her eyesight, she is unable to make these quilts anymore. Whenever we visit the village, we stay with Ama and her family, making each of Ama's pieces very dear to us. If you choose to get this quilt, you will love the colors, the feeling, and the stories that it has to tell.

We hold this collection very close to our hearts. During a visit to a rural village of the Sindhi Gypsy tribe in western Rajasthan, we had an amazing experience and wonderful time. Since then, it has become our project to work together with the women of this village and promote their rare and unique textile craftsmanship of Zari embroidery and Rali quilt making. Unfortunately, this dying art is so underpaid compared to the amount of time and skills it requires. Nowadays, machine-made copies are sold for a fraction of the price of these original pieces of textile art. By purchasing from this collection, you not only help us keep this original craftsmanship and art alive but also support these wonderful ladies with such a unique and beautiful culture who are living under very harsh and poor conditions. We travel every year to visit them, collect these vintage boho tapestries, quilts, and vintage dresses, and are looking forward to seeing their beautiful smiles again soon. Our photos offer a glimpse of their culture and traditional dresses, and we are more than happy to share more photos and tell you their story if you're interested in our project.

Each little piece is carefully crafted and tells a story of its own a unique traveller's treasure for bohemian homes.

Use it as a wall tapestry, half- or end of bed runner, for ethnic decor at festivals, for yoga rooms or meditation corners

Since it is vintage (around 30 to 40 years old), it has signs of wear (see the photos - you can also request more photos from me, if you want)
Colors are a little bit faded at some places and there are marks on the back. and some embroidery show signs of "wear" Nevertheless it is a magnificent textile treasure, in very good condition that will enlighten your bohemian home.

Size: 40" by 73"

If you have anymore questions please hit the "Ask a question" button, right under the price.