The tanchoi is a superior silk, woven with floral and bird motifs. Derived from the Gujarati terms tan meaning three and choi meaning Chinese, the tanchoi is named after three Parsi brothers who learnt the secret intricacies of Chinese embroidery during their protracted stay in China. This is an important textile as the interaction between the two regions is evident in the technique used – Chinese weave with a tan choi border. The reverse bears an inscription, in gujarati script, of the name “Bhai Chand Vardaman”; a Gujarati Jain name it could make reference to a local ruler, a trader or the owner of the textile.
