Blue Pottery in India

The reputation of Indian arts largely rests on the exquisiteness of these arts. Among many traditional arts of India, Jaipur and Delhi Blue Pottery has a vital significance. The artisans mold and paint their imagination into beautiful blue pots. The pottery tradition is unique and prominent in India. The use of Persian blue dye lends the attractive blue color. The pottery is also glazed and high fired, to make it durable. You will find that blue pottery is decorated with animal and bird motifs. This impermeable pottery is generally used for decorative purposes. The range of items is primarily decorative such as ashtrays, vases, coasters, small bowls and boxes for trinkets.

The Charm of Blue Pottery

The foreign art of using blue glaze made from fuller's earth was discovered by Mongol artisans. These Mongol artisans blended Chinese glazing technology with Persian decorative arts. In 14th century this art traversed to India with early Muslim swayers. In Central Asia it was employed to make tiles to decorate mosques, tombs and palaces.

Blue Pottery in India

The legacy of artisans and craftsmen from the Mughal period, who settled down in the village of Khurja (100 km from Delhi), resulted in blue pottery. The tradition was passed down from one generation to the other. Delhi stoneware pottery is the one marked with vibrant blue surface and Mughal motifs in blue color along with other colors on the base of white color.

The Mughal emperors started using blue pottery in India vis-a-vis the edifices in Samarkand. The craftsmen from Kashmir adopted this art and it gained the status as an accessory of architecture. Gradually it traveled to Delhi and in 17th century it was introduced in Jaipur. The Rajas of Jaipur were extremely fond of blue glazed wares. Visit the Rambagh Palace to get the clue and see the fountain with splendid blue tiles. Even the construction of Jaipur city had been with blue tiles but they mysteriously disappeared soon after that.

Contemporary Blue Pottery

Today, Blue Pottery of Delhi is on the verge of extinction. With a handful of craftsmen left, the future of the craft seems oblique. However institutes like Delhi Blue Pottery Trust (founded in 1991), which runs a pottery school in the basement of the Delhi Blue Apartments. The trust encourages the development and promotion of studio pottery in India.


Swati

Madhubani Paintings - A Hallmark of Mithila Women's Exquistness

Women folks of Mithila in Bihar have been painting their walls with intricate 'tantric' and mythological motifs for centuries. Gradually these paintings came into notice and termed Madhubani Paintings. These paintings manifest the Culture of India, the rich tradition of Art and Craft of India besides representing Art and Craft of Bihar. These paintings were initially done on the mud walls but with changing times they are now done on cloth, hand made paper and canvas.

The origin of Madhubani paintings is not much known, thereby it is little obscure to trace back its origination. The painting derives its name from hundreds of beehives that once dotted the neighboring villages of Jitwapur. The style and nuances of Madhubani paintings remain the same even after centuries. The legacy of this art is passed on from one generation to other. You will be amused to see that the motifs of Madhubani paintings can be found on coins, seals and urns that belonged to the Indus Valley Civilization.

The central themes of most Madhubanu paintings are Love and Fertility. The theme of Fertility dominates the Kohbar tradition. Fertility is depicted through animals, flowers, birds and celestial bodies like parrot, elephants, fish, turtles, lotus, sun, moon bamboo tree. Swaymwar of Lord Ram and Goddess Sita or Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha in amorous pose are prominent themes of Madhubani Paintings. These deities are in the center of the mural or canvas accompanied by their consorts. The floral motifs make the background.

The dexterity of the craftswomen can be seen by the fact that they directly paint with a brush without any preliminary sketch. Primarily the natural colors were obtained from extracts of plants like Heena leaves, flowers, bougainvillea and neem. These were then admixed with resin from banana leaves and ordinary gum to make a painting medium. The vibrant Madhubani Paintings mostly deploy colors like orange, crimson red, pink, black, green, yellow and blue. These paintings were not done by everyone in the beginning. Only Brahmins and Kayasthas did it with Brahmins rendering them bright hues and Kayasthas opted for muted tones. The Harijan style is bit different whereby they coat the wall or canvas by cow dung.

Go to Bihar, walk through the lanes of villages and you will see the painted mud walls. This mesmerizing art will showcase the craftsmanship of the artists. No wonder if you buy many paintings from these artists as a souvenir.

Swati

Kantha Sarees

Kantha Sarees are one of the most famous sarees in West Bengal. Known for its delicate embroidery, the sarees sell by the name of the Kantha Embroidery than the cloth of the sari.

Kantha involves running embroidery. In Kantha, the cloth is given layers which are then closed by the designer stitches. The art of Stitches is so beautiful that the layers of cloth cannot be seen. Only one layer is seen and looks as if the stitching is done on a single layer rather than the on multiple layers of cloth. Kantha is also said to be doruka meaning turning the worn out clothes into a new one.

Kantha comes in a number of varieties. Like the Archilata Kantha, Baiton Kantha, Durjani Kantha, Lep Kantha, Oaar Kantha, Sujani Kantha, Rumal Kantha. All of them have various uses like some are used to cover mirrors, some for covering books, some for making quilted wallets, some for making warm quilts, some for making blankets and spreads. Various varieties are used for various uses. But the most famous are the Kantha Sarees which top all other varieties of Kantha Embroidery.


History of Kantha Embroidery

Kantha evolved out of the necessity to drape against cold. Kantha in Sanskrit means rags. In other words it is called as Indian Recycling Art. In the olden days when the silks and musins became worn out, the Bengali women instead of throwing them away stitched them and turned them into beautiful clothes. The legend is also that such an art was also used by the Buddhists to save themselves from cold.



The Saree

Generally speaking a Kantha Saree is a work on 5.5 ft long silk saree with a beautiful border and all over work. The work usually depicts heritage depicting wedding, doli, floral baskets , silver and green forests and little flowers. These come in all colors and range anything from $ 100 a piece. The motifs also depict the rich and high class society with different aspects of life. In fact, each piece of a Kantha Saree depict a different aspect of life.

If you want to buy the best quality of Kantha Saree, then you should go to Kolkatta to buy the best at the lowest price. Because Kantha is home product of bengal is easily found there. So when you are in Bengal, don't forget to buy a piece.

Indian Sarees

Saris, the six meter long cloth are one of the traditional Indian Dresses. For most of the Indians, they mark the Indian Culture in true sense. Draped in a number of ways, these make one of the charms of Indian Women. Capitulated, captured, designed, engrooved, these masterpieces come in one of the most unique ways. Each piece has its own unique identity.

As saris present the Culture of India, there are also the varieties of saris which come in vibrant colors and designs. Saris differ per region, that means as you move along the border lines different states of India, you will find difference in the cloth, embroidery, design and the quality of work. Basically Indian Saris come in Silk, cottons, chiffon and Georget kind of cloths. Out of these hundred varieties of sarees are made. Like the kanjivarumns, kota silk, Katha silk, zardosi and the maheshwaris and bandhej make for some of the most famous saris.

A lot also depends on the fabric which is being used. The same design and work would give a totally different look when worked upon a different type of cloth. See the sheen of a saree when its done on a plain cotton cloth and then on net. You will find a totally different look. The various fabrics used in saris are crepe, brocade, georgete, jaamavar, net, silk and tissue.

Not only the fabric varies but also the work . The most sought after and famous works done of saris are aabia, aari, beads, chikankari, cut work, gold work, gota, jamdani, kantha, meenakari, mukesh, stone, paisley, tikki, zari, zardosi, kundan , knots and faroonkhabadi.

It takes months to make a sari especially when its hand woven. The time o f making a saree increases when the work of embroidery is there. The thinner the cloth, the delicate the work and more the time to make one piece. The price of a sari also depends upon embroidery. The heavier and the more intricate the embroidery, more the price of the sari.

Another class of saris are the South Indian Sarees. These are a class apart as these are made on pure silk. These are known as Kanjivurumns. Begining from a range of Rs 5000/- minimum , these are supposed to be a special gift in most of the Indian Wedding. At least one Kanjivurum is kept with every brides belongings. Its a pized possession!

For every piece which is woven or handmade comes the emotions of Indian women. Cradelled and then sent away, these saris make one of the most important things of a Indian Women, just like her Jewellery !

Mukti Sharma

Lacquerware From Chennapatna

Lac or shellac is found in abundance in nature. People from very ancient times use it in various arts and crafts. It is actually a natural resin produced from crimson red tiny insects, which thrive on certain species of trees. Even at Vedas, in Atharva Veda a small chapter is being devoted to the lac insects. In the epic Mahabharata, Kauravas conspired against Pandavas and made a lac palace so that it could easily be set on fire. It was 3000 years ago! Like the short lived resin, its history is lost, but its brilliant red dye continues to attract as never before.

Lac is still a popular among many carpenters, Cartwright, turner and shoemaker, and all this craftsmen use lac in some form or other in everyday life. The lac is used to plug and concealed the blemishes and defects, sometimes surface is uniformly varnished or colored with lac where it is desired. Jewelers load hollow gold and silver ornaments with lac or fix stones in it.

Chennapatna is a small town in Karnataka where lac is particularly used to made different lacquerwares. Lac turning has been practiced in the small town of Chennapatna in Karnataka as a local industry till 1920s, when the government attempted to give it a more comprehensive role by starting a training school in lacquerware toys to expand the prospect of artists.

The toys and other artifacts are made up of mostly of hale wood and sometimes yellow teak wood. . Its softness, white color and easy availability make it ideal for the turning and lacquering process. The wood is well seasoned first, before being shaped on the lathe. Originally a manual lathe called pattari was used and still is, by some artisans. But most of the them prefer to use lathe for basic shapes and apply the lacquer decoration by hand, with shellac and aniline colors. Colored lacqer comes in thin strips, which are pressed over the articles as the lathe revolves and the heat thus generated melts the lac. Later, coconut oil and the screw pine leaf give a brilliant shine to the piece.

Around 250 artists live here, working on their lathes. Some of the famous exponents of this are are Makkan Yelakki, mmer Mitty, Shafullah, Beeraiyah, Sued Jamur and Chikkathayamma. Their work is not only renowned in India but also famous in abroad and won many prizes. The artists have caught on to marketing and designing trends with great gusto. While the men work on the lathe, the women and children give the finishing touch.