Rabari Chakla: Asiatic Lions & More Mirrors
27" High x 28" Wide
This antique chakla was hand made by the  nomadic Rabari tribe of the Kutch desert.  It is meticulously beaded with the tiniest beads of various sizes, clearly all hand made... very labor intensive. Chaklas are  always square. A bride uses it to wrap her dowry items in to take to her new home. Later she hangs in on the wall for decoration.  The design motifs include a multitude of nature images. The motifs they use, colors and images can be read like a book to tell you where she came from & things that have happened in her life. It is a language in beading.
Mirrors, Shisha, represent protection The reflectiveness of the mirrors is considered  to be a shield as well as a way to deflect the evil eye which is believed to bring misfortune & infertility.  Mirrors also are belived to bring  light into darkness , a reminder of their ancient solor.
The Asiatic Lions are found in the grand Gir National Forest which is the only home of the Asiatic lion in the world.  The tropical dry forests along with tropical grasslands complete with semi and full desert areas allows this lion group to thrive. As compared to their African cousin’s Asiatic lion’s coat is shaggy in its outlook along with a longer tassel towards the end of the tail. The elbow hair tufts are also relatively longer than the other lions. One of the most noticeable and visible physical characteristics found in them is a longitudinal fold of skin which runs along the belly region. The mane of Asiatic lions is shorter in length than the African ones, which allows their ears to stick out more visibly. In their overall physical appearance and size they are smaller in size as compared to the other lions. They are endangered with only 6000 remaining.
Hand Made in Gujarat, India