Model of a pair of embroiders at work

The Museum’s collection of clay models and dioramas document the people, lifestyles, occupations and cultures of Mumbai from the late 19th to the early 20th century. This model shows a pair of embroiders at work on a textile that is stretched on a wooden stand. Their costumes are indicative of the communities that traditionally practiced this craft in India.

This form of embroidery is done on a frame, where the cloth needs to be stretched. In North India, the frame is referred to as the 'Adda' or 'Khaat'. The two embroiderers seem to be wearing different ensembles - on the left, he wears something similar to an Angarakha or Jama with cross panels over the chest, and on the right he wears a front open Kurta, which if heavier might be referred to as the 'Achkan'.