 Home | Registrations | Search | Know Marwad | News | Message Board | Personality | Fun | Matrimonial | E-Greetings | Anniversaries | Photo Feature | Marwad's Websites | Contact
|
>>>>>
Online Shop Guide of Marwadi (Rajasthani) Products<<<<<
Absolutely astounding and unique in concept,
colour and workmanship, the art and handicrafts of
Rajasthan are beyond comparison. Be it jewellery,
painting, furniture, leatherware, pottery, metalcraft or hand-printed textiles,
each object has a penetrating and irresistible appeal. An ethnic aura envelopes
even the simplest of forms, making each one truly a collector’s delight.
Rajasthan, popularly known as the ‘treasure trove of Indian handicrafts’
and ‘shoppers’ paradise’, has been able to preserve its craft despite several
ups and downs. Its rich heritage has played an important role in the economy of
the state. The glittering jewellery and attractive handicrafts of Rajasthan have
caught the fantasy of the people abroad and earned rich dividends.
JEWELLERY
 The artistic delicacy and
elaborateness in the manufacturing of Rajasthani jewellery made of purest and
finest materials is world-renowned. Rajasthan became famous for its jewellery
industry from very early times, being an important source of precious and semi
precious stones. Sophisticated jewellery, set with precious stones using the
‘Kundankari’ technique, or decorated with bright enamel work, known as
‘minakari’, were made for the Rajput courtiers and affluent people. Skillful
artisans from Lahore, Delhi, Gujarat, and Bengal, attracted by the liberal
patronage of the kings, came to work in Jodhpur. Jaipur is the centre for gold ‘kundan’ work
and a renowned centre for diamond and emerald cutting. The temple market at Nathdwara is the best place
to buy silver ‘kundan’ and ‘meenakari’ work
Old silver jewellery, which
is much in vogue, can be bought in Jaisalmer in every nook and corner of the small bazaar area.
Pratapgarh in Chittaurgarh district is famous for ‘thewa’ jewellery
.The red, green, or blue foil below highlights the intricate gold work in the
best possible manner.
METALWARE
Indian
craftsmen have always shown an exceptional skill in engraving, chasing and
ornamenting of gold and silver articles of everyday and decorative use. The
metalware of Rajasthan comprises artistic brass work, enameled, engraved and
filigree cut work on silver. The Jaipuri-engravers have mastered the medium of
engraving on metal. Lacquered and engraved brassware comes in an amazing variety
of articles: hanging lamps, boxes, bowls, picture frames, and plates.
Traditional designs are used in different techniques such as hammered, chased or
embossed and the motifs are of flowers, hunting scenes and landscapes.
In
Jaipur, the engraving is done in three styles namely, (a) 'Marori' work-
minutely lacquered designs covering the entire surface, (b) 'chikan'- floral
ornamentation standing out vividly against a chased and lacquered background and
(c) 'bichi' - a delicate pattern of flowers and leaves, on a lacquered surface.
Traditional silver articles like 'handas' or water containers, spice
bottles, baskets and trays are popular worldover - white metal articles too,
command sizeable exports. Water carrier, ‘badla’, made of zinc, a speciality of
Jodhpur, is one of the flourishing industries of Rajasthan. 'Badlas', usually
round, semi-circular or rectangular are sometimes fitted with ice chambers and
taps. In ‘Koftagari’ or damascening work, mostly practised in Alwar and Jaipur,
one metal is encrusted into another in the form of wire. Popular articles are
swords, daggers and shields.
POTTERY
Pottery, one of the old crafts,
has its own standing tradition in Rajasthan. Certain shapes are characteristic
of Rajasthan. Alwar has been
known for its double cutwork pottery known as “kagzi”. It is made of a thin
layer of clay and needs a high degree of skill. Purely decorative, the pottery
of Bikaner uses lac colours embellished with gold to give a glittering finish.
Possibly the only pottery in the world that is made without using clay, Blue
Pottery of Jaipur is unique in appearance. The art of glazed pottery came to
India through Persia. The materials used are Multani clay or 'fuller's earth',
quartz, raw glaze, and sodium sulphate. The best pieces are hand painted with
conventional floral or arabesque patterns and sometimes with figures of animals.
Besides traditional articles like 'surahis', pots and cylindrical jars, other
items include ashtrays, tiles, flower pots, lamp stands, beads, ear rings, soap
cases, jugs, mugs and door knobs.
|
PAINTINGS
Paintings of Rajasthan- miniature and folk
are known all over the world for treatment and composition, colour scheme and
subjecting. The purpose of Rajasthani paintings is pleasure. Hence, women have
been given prominence in all the artists’ creations. Folk paintings have also
developed side by side. Use of vibrant colours, bold lines, two dimensional
treatment of figures and entire composition distributed in compartments are some
of the unique features of these paintings, popularly known as ‘phad’
paintings.
‘Mandana’ is a folk craft of decoration of houses, which is
quite popular in rural areas. Mandanas indicate seasons with the vegetable
designs depicting Diwali with the 'bali' of barley and Holi with the raw mango.
Sanjhi figure is made during the Dussehra festival.
LEATHER WORK
The use of leather in Rajasthan
is very old. The beautifully designed leather shoes are well known items in the
world market. Leather is embroidered, punched, studded and stitched in various
eye-catching designs. The best known centres of traditional footwear are Jaipur
and Jodhpur.
Decorative saddles for horses are prepared in Bikaner,
Jaipur and Jaisalmer. A special type of water bottle called ‘kopi’ is made from
camel hide.
CARPET AND NAMDAS
The
Rajasthani carpet is but a true expression of the workers' simple philosophy,
his sensitive perception of nature and its changing moods convincingly
translated into the craft. The colour combinations are lovely and worksmanship
exquisite. It is a treasure that lasts a lifetime. From Bikaner and Tonk come
also the gaily-patterned, felt 'numdahs' or small rugs. A Durree is a cool,
light rug. Rajasthani durries are smooth and closely woven. Pastel shades and a
sparse use of geometrical and vegetable motifs are popular. Jaipur is a thriving
centre for carpets and durrees today.
IVORY
CARVING
Among the most intricate and painstaking crafts is ivory
carving. Under regal partronage, the most delicate art of ivory carving
flourished, in the princely capitals of Rajasthan; Bharatpur, Udaipur, Jaipur and Jodhpur. The art is
still alive in the delicate ivory figurines of gods and goddesses, minutely
carved and perfectly proportioned. Jali-work of lace like intricacy is testimony
to the ivory carvers, fine eye and unerring hand. Animal figures, birds, fish
trays and paper knives and a host of other decorative objects are carved with
utmost artistry and craftsmanship.
|
STONE
CARVING
Rajasthan is not merely famous for
the valorous deeds and heroic sacrifices of its warriors but also for its
splendid architectural monuments made of stone. Temples, forts and palaces are
glorious achievements of the craftsmen that have few rivals.
Jaipur is
the centre of marble carving in Rajasthan. Here artisans create marble images of
the deities as well as domestic utensils such as bowls for grinding spices and
kneading dough. At centres such as Ajmer, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner and Jaipur can be seen
very fine examples of 'jali' or lattice, worked on screens and panels in the
palaces of these cities.
BLOCK
PRINTING
Close to Jaipur is the small township of Sanganer, the name
synonymous today with the finest block printed cottons. Some of the ‘Sanganeri
chipas’ have moved to Jaipur and their colourful printed creations are widely
available.
Block printing is a finely developed art in other parts of
Rajasthan too. While the ‘Bagru’ prints are famous for floral designs in dark
vegetable colours, the 'Barmer’ prints are known for their bold geometric
patterns, called 'AJRAKH'.
A special process of tie-and dye creates the
stylized wave pattern, or ‘laharia’, symbolizing water or the monsoon rain.
Turbans and ‘odhnis’ with ‘laharia’ patterns are generally used on festive
occasions, especially Teej.
Bandhani is a complicated and skilled work
of ornamenting the cloth with combination of colours. Jaipur and Jodhpur, the
main centres of this speciality have produced many bandhej workers who excel in
their jobs.
The traditional handicrafts of Rajasthan survived and
developed because they were regarded as material symbols of Rajasthan’s unique
cultural ethos. With the initiative of the government, these crafts were
survived with the setting up of the All India Handicrafts Board at New Delhi and
the Rajasthan Small Scale Industries Corporation at Jaipur. Almost every craft
is practiced and marketed in Rajasthan and the tradition has been so nurtured by
the craftsmen that their products win the acclaim and appreciation from
all.
|
|
|