CIRCA: 1900 – 1930
Tibetan pangden’s, or aprons, feature striking multi-coloured, horizontally striped panels and are worn by women in Tibet and areas where Tibetans live throughout the Himalaya. Unique to Tibetan culture, historically they were made from fine dyed wool (and sometimes silk for the higher classes) and are designed with horizontal stripes of various widths and of contrasting colour combinations. The narrow strips that make up the pangden are first woven on a back strap loom and then cut to length and stitched together, while the design gets its striking effect from the random pattern of the interrupted stripes. Worn over a chuba*, the pangden is traditionally worn by married women, or women that are old enough to marry, but in more recent years this custom is not always adhered too.
This multi-coloured five paneled woolen pangden was hand-made with very fine soft wool in the early 1900’s and measures 109cm wide x 85cm high. Collected in the early 1970’s, it is in good condition (although could benefit from a professional wash).
*A chuba is an ankle-length robe bound around the waist by a sash and worn by both men and women in many areas of the high Himalaya, especially Tibet.