Extant petticoat in the V&A, 1500-1575

While poking around in the V&A image archive for something else entirely, I ran across this petticoat, gathered into a very narrow waistband, with a flat section in front.

The problem with the 16th century date is that as far as I've been able to find, the EIC wasn't given a royal charter until 1600, so how could the stamp be from earlier in the 16th century?


http://collections.vam.ac.uk/objectid/O141134

Object: Petticoat
Date ca.: 1570-1575
Techniques: Cotton, painted and dyed; linen, printed
Artist/designer: Unknown
Place: Coromandel Coast, India
Dimensions
Height 111 cm
Circumference 348 cm (hem)
Museum number
T.87-1923

Although it is hand-drawn, the simple treatment of the design on this skirt almost gives the appearance of a block-print. Unusually for a chintz fabric, the black has been drawn directly onto the cloth. There is an East India Company stamp on top of the painted design on one side of the petticoat. Black designs like this were probably intended as mourning wear. Another very similar petticoat in the V&A was part of the Baker gift (IS.107-1950).