In ARTS & CRAFT Rajasthan is
among the richest states in the country. May be it was a
result of a war like life style of people of Rajasthan
which sharpened the creative senses, artistic skills and
inspired them to create the best and richest of arts.
Rajasthan has created and preserved rich craft heritage
which includes fabulous fabrics in lovely prints,
precious and semi-precious stones, Kundan Meenakari
Jewellery, embroidered leather work, other hand crafted
items of wood, ivory, lac, glass, brass, silver and
gold.Each
period of history saw it's own contribution to the
thriving art scene. History of Rajasthan reveals that
the Kings and nobles were patrons of Art and Craft and
they encouraged the craftsmen in activities ranging from
wood and marble carving to weaving, pottery and
painting. People of this region had a strong desire to
decorate their surroundings. The great palaces were
decorated with as much attention as the walls of mud.
When Rajputs came to
dominate the region they were constantly involved into
fights. With the new ruler coming,there used to be a
change in the art and culture of that area. This led to
a change in the paintings and led to a great variety in
the end. The Rajputs have been the patrons of the art.
Their contact with the Mughals led to a strong influence
of art on their lives.
The Rajput rulers
encouraged the artisans by setting up schools for the
propagation of their crafts. Each Rajput principally had
his own unique craft and to this day, every little town
and village has it's share of lanes where the craftsmen
can be found practicing a craft handed down by the
ancestors.
Some of the popular
crafts :
The hand knotted woolen
carpets of Tonk, Bikaner and Jaipur, are generally based
on Persian styles.The traditional cotton durries
of Jaipur, Jodhpur are, mostly in pastel shades with
geometrical motifs design.These can brighten any dullest
floor. Woolen Namda of Tonk (non woven) are equally
popular.
Rajasthan is rich in
jewellery, each area having it's own unique style. Some
of the traditional design are rakhri, bala, bajuband,
gajra, gokhru, jod, etc. tribal women wear heavy,
simply crafted silver jewellery . Men also wear
ornaments in the form of chockers and earrings.
During Mughal Empire, Rajasthan became a major centre
for production of fine kind of jewellery. It was a true
blend of the Mughal with the Rajasthani craftsman ship.
The Mughals brought sophisticated design and new
technical know-how of the Persians origin with them.
Meenakari
:
The Meenakari is known as, the setting of precious
stones into gold and the enameling of gold.
This intricate art was brought in Jaipur by Raja
Mansingh of Amer by inviting some skilled workers from
Lahore. The art grown over the years. Jaipur Meenakari
is famous for it's delicacy and colourfulness. Alwar,
Pratapgarh and Nathdwara are other centers, which
produce fine quality enamel work.
Kundan :
A speciality of Rajasthan, is work of Kundan, the
jewellery in which kundan is applied, mostly made from a
core of lac, a natural resin.
The pieces which make up the finished object are first
shaped by specialised craftsmen (and solder together if
the shape is complicated). Holes are cut for the stones,
any engraving or chasing is carried out, and the pieces
are enameled. When the stones are to be set, lac is
inserted in the back, and is then visible in the front
through the holes. Highly refined gold, the kundan, is
then used to cover the lac and the stone is pushed into
the kundan.
More Kundan is applied around the edges to strengthen
the setting and give it a neat appearance. This was the
only form of setting for stones in gold until claw
settings were introduced under the influence of western
jewellery in the nineteenth century.
More than one craftsman was often involved in the making
of a single piece of jewellery. The chiterias made the
design, the ghaarias the engraving, the meenakar was the
enameller and the sunar was the goldsmith. These
craftsmen received patronage from the nobles and the
kings, and therefore, they Do not have to compromise
their art for the sake of popular taste. They could take
as long as they liked over a piece of jewellery.
The Masculine
Jewellery
Turban jewellery :Turbans are heavily encrusted
with jewels and fastened with a gem set kalangi or
aigrette.
The ornament worn in front of the turban is called a
sarpech. It was often extended into a golden bank
set with emeralds, rubbies, diamonds. Pearls were
greatly loved by the Maharajas and they often wore
double or triple strings of pearls with pendant of
precious stones round their necks.
Men also wore earrings, jeweled sashes around
their waists and several rings on every finger.
It was a status symbol and a portable display of wealth,
and consequently, power.
The common man of Rajasthan has traditionally worn
jewellery too, though what he wears is made from more
modest metals like silver, and gems are substituted by
coloured glass.
Earrings, armlets and anklets of silver are still
commonly seen adorning the rural Rajasthani male. Males
also wear necklaces, earrings and lucky charms which are
considered to ward off evil.
The Feminine
Jewellery
Feminine jewellery is more complex than masculine
jewellery. Ladies generally wear a number of jewellery
right from head to Foot.These are :
- Borla
- Hair pins
- Nose ring (nuth)
- Karan fhool
- Jhumka
- necklace and
Champakali around the neck
- Bujband
- Chuda
- Bangles and rings
- Hathphool around arms
and fingers
- Kardhani around west
- Rings on the toes
- Payal (jhanjhar) for
foot
and so on, any number to be worn at the same time.
So it is not surprising that the ladies of Rajasthan
were be decked from head to toe in jewellery, so much so
that it sometimes is an mystery as to how they could
carry the weight of all the jewellery worn.
Ivory is often used to
make jewellery, especially bangles, which are considered
an essential part of bridal jewellery. The bangles are
often over laid with gold. They are often dyed in
various colors, though the most popular one is red.
Ivory is also inlaid and shaped into intricate items of
great beauty. Miniature paintings were also executed on
the ivory.
Lac and Glass :
Lac is mainly used
bangles and decorative items. Lac bangles are made in
bright colours. These bangles and decorative items are
inlaid with glass and coloured stone.
The world fame jootis
are made from leather having artistically emroidered
uppers. These are incredibly comfortable and sturdy.
Jaipur, Jodhpur, Barmer and Jaisalmer are traditionally
known for these footwear.
Leather is also an essential raw material for making
musical instruments such as the tabla, dhol,
kamaycha. These instruments are used by
Rajasthani folk musicians.
Bikaner is known for its painted lamp shades, shields
and vases made from camel hide .
Designer hand-bags, purses, belts, hats, stools and
collapsible chairs with graphic embroideries made from
leather at Tilonia village near Ajmer is also example of
good craft manship.
From palaces to huts,
paintings can be found everywhere in many colours and
forms. Rajasthani paintings can broadly be classified
into Wall, Cloth and Miniature Paintings.
Wall
Painting :
Palaces, Havelies, even huts are commonly having Walls
and ceilings covered with colourful paintings in
Rajasthan. Some of the finest paintings can be seen in
havelis of the Shekhawati region and the ancient towns
of Bundi and Kota. And some of the most humorous on the
walls of houses tucked away in the lanes of Jaisalmer.
Cloth Paintings :
They include the phad and the
pichwai (cloth hanging used behind the deity in
Vaishnava temples such as the temple of Shrinathji at
Nathdwara). Done in bright colours with bold outlines,
these paintings have strong religious traditions.
Miniature
Paintings :
Different schools of this fascinating art have
flourished here since the 16th century, each with its
own distinctive style.
The Kishangarh school is best known for its Bani Thani
paintings. A totally different style with highly
exaggerated features - long necks, large almond-shaped
eyes, long fingers and the use of subdued colours.The
verdant greenery of the Kota-Bundi region is reflected
in the paintings of that region.
The rulers of Amer-Jaipur were the closest to the
Mughals and a strong Mughal influence crept into their
paintings.
Rajasthan's terracotta
tradition is dating back to the Indus Valley
Civilization. Since then it continues in all parts of
the state. A villege Molela near Udaipur is fame for its
terracotta aticles.
Clay is extensively used for making pots, dolls and
other objects. These are painted with various type of
images like folk divinities and are sold in village
fairs during festive times such as Gangaur, Teej and
Diwali.
Jaipur is the home of glazed blue-pottery. Vases, flower
pots, bowls, water pots and other objects are produced
in traditional geometrical and floral motifs, as well as
hand-painted details of Rajasthani legends.
Puppet is an ancient and
popular form of folk entertainment. No village fair, no
religious festival and no social gathering in Rajasthan
can be complete without the kathputlis (puppets).
With their sparkling eyes and brightly coloured dresses,
the kathputlis , gives unforgettable experience.
Carved wooden chests and
boxes with brass inlay and lacquer work, together with
sandalwood statues and objects, are the some of the most
popular hand crafted items. There is also a wide range
of grand furniture, reminiscent of the royal era.
Tilonia (near Ajmer) furniture also stands out for its
fine embroidery work done on leather. As also carved
furniture from Barmer region.
Rajasthan produces the
country's finest marble, sandstone, quartz and slate.
The extraordinary craftsman ship of Rajasthani stone
workers is visible in the numerous temples, palaces and
havelies. For the connoisseur, there are life-like and
life-size statues, the intricately carved pillars
and jalis (latticed grilles). The finest examples
of jali work can be seen in the various
havelis (mansions) of Jaisalmer.
Precisely carved statues, busts, pillars, furniture
items and other objects in white marble stone in Makrana
are unforgot tenable.
Click here to see the.
Rajasthani textiles come
in a fascinating range of dyed and block-printed fabric
which are further embroidered. Each region has its own
special colour scheme, design and technique.
Hand-block printed textiles of the townships of
Sanganer and Bagru near Jaipur have won the hearts
of millions at home and abroad. Jaipur's quilts are a
hot favourite with most tourists.
Tie-and-dye textiles, called bandhej or
bandhani are an important Rajasthani craft.
Different methods are used to tie the fabric into small
points and produce various patterns like lehariya,
mothda, ekdali and shikari. The best
bandhej comes from Sikar and Jodhpur, while Jaipur,
Barmer, Pali, Udaipur and Nathdwara are the other
centres.
Zari and gota are lavishly used in bridal
and formal costumes. One can pick up saris or even
cushion covers with this elaborate mettalic thread
embroidery.
