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The pattern in this piece is one seen in traditional ply-split braided camel belts of the Thar desert of Rajasthan. In this case, the ply-split pattern is worked in the round, made with dark blue and sand colours rather than the traditional black and white, and is made increasingly smaller to create a tapering shaped vessel.
Techniques:
ply-splitting
Dimensions:
7.5 x 6 x 6
Materials:
artist-made 4-ply cords of 16/2 linen
Loom:
worked as an off-loom technique (ply-splitting) using cords of 4 plies
Helen Leaf
I work with ply-splitting, a unique textile technique with origins in the deserts of Rajasthan, and introduced to the West by Peter Collingwood in the 1990s.
An award-winning ply-splitter, I draw on the traditions and techniques of the old masters, consulting archives and original pieces, but have established my own path, innovating and pushing the boundaries of what is possible, seeing ply-splitting as a sculptural way of working with yarn.
I am based in the UK, and teach and exhibit internationally.
