Tunic; man’s theatrical costume; black rayon satin, short sleeves, back opening with two tape ties, cotton lining; highly ornamented with multi-colored satin insets and flaps, silver and gold colored braid and trim, sequin sand pink and green beads; Length 85 cm, Width 72 cm
Donor:
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Ready, Jr. Fund
Collection place:
Varanasi (city), Varanasi District, Uttar Pradesh
Verbatim coll. place:
India, Uttar Pradesh, Benares
Culture or time period:
Indian
Collector:
Renaldo "Ronald" Maduro
Collection date:
January 1970
Materials:
Cotton (textile), Rayon, and Satin
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Tunics
Function:
5.3 Objects relating to the Secular and Quasi-religious Rites, Pageants, and Drama
Accession date:
November 11, 1970
Context of use:
worn by men over the traditional loin cloth (dhoti) or tight shirred pants - churidars. This particular piece used in Ram Lila (story of Rama and Sita) performances, and could be used by an actor playing any of the male parts. Many Ram Lila troupes are traveling companies. performing in small towns and villages. Made by men.