Old Indian Wood Textile Printing Block 1

This Old Indian Wood Textile Printing Block 1 has a dense repetitive design consisting of six rows of incised diamonds alternating with six rows of interconnecting abstract flowers and arched leaves.  The block measures about 4.75" high by 6" wide by 0.75" deep with two of the edges having a scalloped form.  Maker, type of wood and exact age are unknown.  India has a long history of creating textiles using wood printing blocks, which are made from woods such as teak, sycamore and pear.  They are hand carved following a design that has been created with chalk paste or a pencil on paper.  They are then soaked in oil for 10-15 days to soften the timber.  Once the blocks are ready, they are dipped in color and pressed on the fabric repeatedly.  The charm of the blocks and their impressions are the tiny variations and imperfections  This Old Wood Textile Printing Block 1 is in Generally Good Condition with small areas of damage and wear from use over time.  Ideal for decoration or use in an art project.