From India to the World: Textiles from the Parpia Collection June 22–September 14, 2025
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Phulkari Head Cover (Bagh) (detail), Punjab, Pakistan, 19th century, cotton embroidered with floss silk threads, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Banoo and Jeevak Parpia Collection, gift of Banoo and Jeevak Parpia.
Phulkari Head Cover (Bagh), Punjab, Pakistan, 19th century, cotton embroidered with floss silk threads, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Banoo and Jeevak Parpia Collection, gift of Banoo and Jeevak Parpia.
Ramayana Textile (detail), Coromandel Coast, India, for the Indonesian market, 18th century, cotton, hand-drawn and mordant-dyed, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Banoo and Jeevak Parpia Collection, museum purchase funded by the Alfred C. Glassell Jr. Accessions Endowment.
Ceremonial Textile (detail), Gujarat, India, for the Indonesian market, c. 1600, block-printed, hand-drawn, resist-dyed, and mordant-dyed, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Banoo and Jeevak Parpia Collection, museum purchase funded by the Alfred C. Glassell Jr. Accessions Endowment.
This pivotal addition to the MFAH collections offers a comprehensive view of Indian textile history.
A celebration of artistic mastery and cultural exchange, From India to the World: Textiles from the Parpia Collection showcases the Museum’s recent acquisition of Indian textiles from the holdings of New York–based Banoo and Jeevak Parpia, one of the most significant private collections of its kind outside India.
For centuries, Indian textiles were among the most coveted commodities in the global market. Beginning with early trade networks across Asia and later expanding into Europe through Portuguese, Dutch, and British merchants, Indian fabrics traveled vast distances—bartered for spices, traded by kings, and collected as treasured heirlooms.
From India to the World highlights this long and dynamic history of exchange. Spanning the 17th to the early 20th century, this exhibition offers a rich cross-section of India’s textile traditions, from intricate court silks to boldly patterned cottons, dazzling tie-dyes, and masterfully woven ikats. These works reflect the exceptional craftsmanship and deep regional knowledge of Indian artisans. Each piece is a testament to the technical brilliance and aesthetic range that has made India a global center of textile innovation for centuries.
This extensive selection builds on the 2023 exhibition Woven Wonders: Indian Textiles from the Parpia Collection, further establishing the Museum’s position among a select group of institutions worldwide with a public collection of Indian textiles of this scope and quality.
Plan Your Visit
- This exhibition is located on the Lower Level of the Beck Building.
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From India to the World: Textiles from the Parpia Collection / June 22–September 14, 2025
“From India to the World: Textiles from the Parpia Collection” is organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
Ready to Visit?
Member and ALL ACCESS tickets include same-day admission to this Special Exhibition, all other Special Exhibitions, and the MFAH Permanent Collections.
Get Your Ticket