TEXTILES
India: Andhra Pradesh, Krishna, Machilipatnam
Kalam (dauber)
1956
Fabricated (wood, hair, and felt); Felted fibers
Wood; Hair
6 1/4 x 1 1/4 in. (16 x 3 cm)
Elizabeth Bayley Willis Collection, gift of Virginia and Prentice Bloedel
TC 58.1-573, d1

A kalam is a tool for applying mordants or wax to cloth. The tools are constructed in one of two ways. A short bamboo stick is wrapped with a ball of hair, wool, or felt just above a sharpened point. This acts as a reservoir for the mordant or dye. The kalam for applying wax in the kalamkari technique contains a metal reservoir which is then wrapped with this absorbent material in each, the pressure applied by the craftsman determines the evenness and flow of the mordant, dye or wax. -- Label copy for Courtyard, Bazaar Temple: Traditions of Textile Expressions in India, Bellevue Art Museum, June 12,1982 to July 25,1982.