Pakistan, Tooh village, near Mithi, Tharparker desert, Sindh. 243x148cm

Circa 2000 large ralli quilt chosen from a dowry shown to me in the remote mud-hit village of Tooh. Personally purchased from Hindu Meghwar tribal member. 

Very large double bed quilt, poly cotton. Appliqued with 15 large squares in colours of yellow, blue, red, white, green and black. Wide appliqué border in predominantly black and white with accents of red, blue, yellow and green. Wide red and white zig-zag border and outer edge hand crocheted in white cotton thread. Each corner has 3 sets of double bright wool tassels on silver beaded cords. Plain deep maroon red backing. No wadding. Whole quilt is quilted in red cotton running stitch. Very striking ralli.

The village of Tooh in Sindh is one of the most remote regions of Pakistan and approximately 10 hours drive south east of Karachi. On this trip I was accompanied by 2 policemen with machine guns who travelled in front in either Jeep or on motorcycle. As I passed through each district the police change. It was an extremely complicated process to gain permission to travel out into these remote districts. We travelled into a grey sandy desert and to get to the village we (myself, translator, and village representative, Dev Vasalai) got out and walked through the sandhills until we came to a small, walled village consisting of mud huts with grass roofs. The huts had compressed mud/dung floors that has been polished to a very hard, cement like consistency. There is no electricity wand water is collected from a well.