Purdah

Description

Large cotton floor covering of Indian origin, said to have belonged to Nana Govind Dondu Pant (Nana Sahib), taken from his tent by Colonel Robert Hope Moncrieff Aitken, Bengal Staff Corps, in the aftermath of the Indian Mutiny/Uprising (1857-1858), India

Museum reference

M.1947.33

Object name

Purdah

Date

Pre 1857

Style / Culture

Indian

Materials

Cotton

Physical description

Mustard-coloured cotton embroidered with flowers and paisley patterns in bright colours, backed with a coarser material (possibly linen), fringed on both shorter edges. There is a handwritten note stitched to the textile that reads: 'Shortly after the Indian Mutiny the Indian Government were informed that Nana Sahib (the butcher of Cawnpore) was in hiding in the Java (?) Jungle. Colonel Aitken V.C. was sent in pursuit of him. After hunting him for several weeks Colonel Aitken succeeded in surrounding the Nana's Camp which he captured but the Nana had disappeared. His followers informed Colonel Aitken that he had died the previous night of fever (probably poison) and his body had been secretly removed. The Indian government refused this as evidence of his death. However he was never seen again. My uncle Colonel Aitken took this Purdah from the Nana's tent brought it home and gave it to my mother who left it to me. Fm. Aitken, Col. Late Argyll and Suthd High[landers].'

Associations

Non-British forces, inc. Imperial and Colonial: Indian
British land forces: Bengal Staff Corps
Previous owner: Sahib, Nana, 1857 (fl.) - 1858 (fl.)
Previous owner: Aitken, Robert Hope Moncrieff, Colonel, 1857 - 1858 (fl.)
War: Indian Mutiny / Uprising
India, South Asia