Sherwani - Coat for men

Sherwani - Coat for men

India, 19th century

Yellow silk, woven and embroidered with metallic threads in a floral design punctuated with pomegranate flowers, with a braid of metallic threads in two shades of gold, lined with yellow satin (Wear). H. 103 cm Provenance : Private collection, Germany. The Sherwani is a fitted, buttoned ceremonial coat that was adopted as evening wear by the maharajas of Jodhpur in the late 19th century. Thick silk and wool sherwanis, either Indian or imported, replaced the wispy, translucent jamas and angrakhas that had evolved from Mughal costumes to become the fashion of the court in Jodhpur in the 18th century. This silk sherwani for a young prince is sewn from Gujarati or Deccani silk embroidered with oval plant motifs known as "buta". A silk embroidered men's coat, "Sherwani", India, 19th century