Kangra paintings of ancient India belong to the school of Pahari paintings that were patronized by the Rajput rulers between the 17th and 19th centuries. Pahari paintings, as the name suggests, were paintings executed in the hilly regions of India, in the sub-Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh. It is in the development and modification of […]
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Hand-carved combs are a tradition which has travelled down from the ancient chronicles of hair ornamentation. Kangsi, the craft of making wooden combs is a tradition that is a few hundred-years-old. It is practiced only by a minority of Banjaras in India today. The array of wooden combs decorated with intriguing carving, jali work, inlay […]
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Metal work in MP owes its existence to the tribal community of the state. The Agaria, meaning a worker in ‘Aag’ or fire, or Hindu God of fire creates diverse products signifying their own traditions. The basic pre historic forms appeal highly to the aesthetic sensibilities of many, who love to carry a few pieces […]
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A display of superior craft skill, the silver jewelry of Kutch is more than just ornamentation. They serve as markers used to differentiate various tribes of the region. Their simplified forms and elaborate textures employ techniques of high precision. Each piece of jewelry has a definitive purpose and is worn as per the age, handed […]
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Music, they say, is the silence between two notes. The silence becomes even more omnipresent as it makes rare appearances between the constant sounds of metal being beaten in the ‘Thatheron ki gali’. This street in Jaipur is a home to utensil makers, locally known as the ‘thathere’ and is as old as the city […]
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Tala pattachithras of Orissa are pin-tip thin paintings etched on a string of palm leaves and highlighted with the black of lampblack or kohl. These palm-leaf illustrations tell stories from mythology and events in daily life.
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Jawaja famous for its leather crafts is equally famous for its colorful jute dhurries. The craft of jute dhurries, a reversible flat-weave rug or mat was initiated during the ‘Rural University initiative’ conducted by IIM and NID in the mid nineteen seventies.The characteristic designs and colors of these carpets are an expression of the village […]
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Namda are felted rugs that are made by enmeshing wool fibers with water, soap and pressure and then embroidering the resultant fabric. These are extensively used in Kashmiri households as an effective and inexpensive floor covering and mattress.
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Commonly known as wicker willow, Jammu and Kashmir enjoys a monopolized market for wickerwork. Straws, grass and leaf are used to make domestic containers that are used to store the agricultural produce. The wicker is produced profusely in the entire region and hence becomes one of the main industries.
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Jute is a versatile natural fibre with a golden and silky shine, hence called ‘the golden fibre’. It is the second most important vegetable fibre after cotton. For ages, it has been used to create a wide range of products from sacks, bags and ropes to folders, mats and wall hangings.
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