Indian Textiles in Southeast Asia: Lost Histories of the Spread Cloth

Although much has been written about Asian–European trade routes and the Indian goods circulated along these networks, further light needs to be shed on the beautifully painted textiles of Gujarat and the Coromandel coast. These textiles were coveted by markets across Southeast Asia and the western world. This talk will illustrate Singapore’s collection of rare naturally dyed and hand-painted Indian cotton textiles from the 13th–19th centuries. The historic and artistic significance of these treasures, displayed at the Asian Civilisations Museum since 2009, will be revisited. The speaker will also update the research concerning this collection and uncover its artistic lineages and production centres in India, while exploring demand-driven productions and missing links that constitute key elements of the Asian ‘Spice for Textile’ trade.