316 cm (vertical) × 188 cm (horizontal)
This type of large textile, known as palampore, is primarily used as bed covers or a wall hangings and is produced in India for export to Sri Lanka and Europe. Patterns are applied to white cotton fabrics using red dye derived from madder, employing hand-painted and block-printing techniques. Key motifs include hills, the tree of life, double-headed birds, and paired birds. Of particular interest is the double-headed bird motif—could it hold a specific symbolic meaning?
In Indian culture, the double-headed bird is known as Gandaberunda, an incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu. This powerful creature is said to possess the strength to grab a hold of four elephants at once. In Europe, the double-headed eagle served as the emblem of the House of Habsburg in the Holy Roman Empire. When European patrons commissioned heraldic textiles from India, Indian artisans reinterpreted the double-headed eagle using the Gandaberunda as inspiration, resulting in a novel hybrid style.
However, when the double-headed bird motif reached Japan, it was referred to as “hiyoku-te” (see image attached)—te meaning “pattern”—drawing from the legend of the hiyoku bird. This mythical bird similarly has one body with two heads but only one eye and one wing on each side, requiring male and female birds to fly together in unison. The bird symbolizes conjugal love or deep friendship. Across Europe, India, and Japan, the double-headed bird motif carries distinct legends and symbolic meanings, with each region interpreting the shared image through its own cultural lens—an enduring appeal that ensures the motif’s lasting popularity.