CHEPSTOW Museum has launched a new exhibition on textiles from 17th Century India in partnership with the British Museum.

The display is titled ‘Hidden in the Lining – Krishna in the Garden of Assam, the tales of two textiles’ and will run until September 3, 2017.

It focuses on the origins, stories and meanings of silk-woven temple textiles from the north-east region of the country, including intricate designs woven in Assam, of which only around 20 examples survive today in collections around the world.

They are known as Vrindavani Vastra, which means the cloth of Vrindavan - a forested region in north India where the Hindu god Krishna is believed to have lived as a young cowherd early in his eventful life. Dramatic scenes from Krishna’s life are woven into these vibrant strips of cloth.

The textiles probably date from around 1680 and are associated with the worship of Krishna. They are decorated with the same scenes from Krishna’s life that also feature in plays and dance dramas performed to music and with elaborate masks that are distinctive to the region.

The British Museum Vrindavani Vastra textile travelled from Assam to a Buddhist monastery in Tibet, while the textile that was cut to make the lining of the banyan that stars in the exhibition, travelled a different route to the West.

Combined with a subtle Chinese blue green damask silk the dressing gown was probably made in Calcutta for a European man who had made his fortune in India to wear in the West.

New light has been shed on the possible identity of the owner, and how it came to be amongst a collection of 18th century costumes in Monmouthshire.

There will be a programme of events in association with the exhibition, for more details contact Chepstow Museum on 01291 625981.