Ethnological
The Ethnological Gallery has two sections: the first section displays works from the Swat region of Pakistan. The objects on display include textiles, jewelry, utensils, furniture and other household objects in addition to examples of the traditional wood carving. The second section is a textile display representing the diverse range of materials, weaves and embroideries from regions all across the Indian subcontinent. Featured textiles belong to regions such as Bangladesh, West Bengal, Benares, Multan, Lahore, Bahawalpur and Hazara. This gallery showcases fabrics that are both stitched and unstitched, such as lungis (loin cloth) and bed-covers from Multan, Lahore and Bahawalpur; Phulkari embroideries from Hazara and Punjab. Appliques, mirror work, muslins and gauzes from Dhaka.
Highlights in this gallery include muslin rumals (scarves) from Chamba, an area in the hills of Indian Punjab, embroidered in double satin stitch with silk thread, so that the picture appears on both sides of the scarf. The embroidery in brilliant colors depict scenes from Hindu religious scriptures mainly revolving around Krishna and Radha.
A smaller portion of this gallery is dedicated to the exhibit of British Colonial period terra-cotta figures coated in brick-red slip or painted in brilliant colors. These figures and micro dioramas depicting the taxonomies of the people of the Indian subcontinent and gives us an excellent insight into the material culture interests of that period.
