Two Early 20th Century Bolts of Sari Cloth Gifted by the Indian Spinning & Weaving Association, to the Earl of Minto former Viceroy of India, together with a letter on headed paper from Government House Calcutta, on bolt is indigo blue on cotton with a lighter edges, and woven with horizontal stripes woven in gold of varying thicknesses to each, approximately 850cm by 60cm, with original paper stitched label with handwriting on; the second in a dark blue finer cotton with fuchsia pink, red, black and gold trims, approximately 450cm by 113cm (2)
Provenance: Estate of the Earl of Minto

The Earl of Minto KG GCSI GCMG GCIE PC (9 July 1845 – 1 March 1914)

Gilbert Elliot-Murray Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto, Governor General of Canada and 17th Viceroy and Governor-General of India.

Born in London, July 1845 to parents William Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 3rd Earl of Minto and Emma, daughter of General Sir Thomas Hislop, 1st Baronet. After attending Eton and Trinity College, Gilbert went on to a successful career within the army, followed by being offered a job in the North-West Mounted Police. Instead he pursued a career in politics and went on to be the Governor General of Canada in 1898, followed by being 17th Viceroy and Governor-General of India in 1905. His popularity in both Canada and India outlived him, with numerous parks, schools and landmarks being named after him.