Gilt Framed Manchester Cotton Chromolithograph - 19th Century

This chromolithograph is a collage of cotton bale labels which would have sealed bales of cloth destined for sale in India. The cotton was sent to England and Scotland, milled and then shipped back to India for production. These labels were advertisements made for the Indian taste. They are framed in a gilt frame with visible wear and tear.

Top left: This label depicts Krishna as a child seated on the four headed snake and was printed for F Steiner & Co (founded 1832) in Manchester, the largest turkey-red dyer outside Glasgow. This particular label can be found in the British Museum collection. #2008,3020.15

Top right: Label from Graham Glasgow (founded 1784) Owner William Graham whose son (also William) was elected the Liberal MP for Glasgow in 1865. 

Bottom left: Bale print depicting the weighing of Lord Krishna

Bottom right: Bale print depicting Maharaja Sirdar Singh who ruled Bikaner 1851€“72. The print is likely a copy of a painting by Chotu painted circa 1860-1870 and now owned by The Met in New York.

Labels like this are unusual to find as they were mostly destroyed during the unpacking of textiles. They are colourful and decorative reminders of the days of the British Raj in India. Framed Manchester Cotton Chromolithograph pictorial label used for the advertisement and sale of bales of cloth and individual fabric lengths - printed on paper on the old printing presses. 

These advertising labels were mostly from Manchester cotton companies who exported their woven, printed fabrics back to India the labels were affixed to the cotton bales.