Handicrafts of Rajasthan

"Art is man added to nature" - nothing exemplifies this more than the vast panorama of the fine arts and crafts of Rajasthan. Fashioned by craftsmen with skills preferred over generations and a dedication to their craft bordering on workship, their products embody the motifs and colours of Rajasthan. Rajasthani Handicrafts are creative transformation of the spirit of romance and gaiety of the lively people of this classic land.

Rajasthan, especially Jaipur, is one of the finest centres in the entire region for beautiful prints - specially on cotton fabrics and has perhaps India's largest centre of semi-precious / precious gems and stones. Tie-and-die fabrics and sarees; Sanganer prints; brocades; marble statuettes, ivory carving; stone-set and semi precious jewellery; enamel work… there is no end to what Jaipur offers to shoppers.

Textile from the sandy terrain of Barmer, to the lakes and hills of Udaipur come a glowing range of prints; delicately floral, richly mosaic-like, swirling striped or dotted. Mirror work, embroidery, Khari or gold over-painting, the traditional patterns and colours, seemingly limitless variety of them are rich testimony to the master printers, weavers and dyers of the state of Rajasthan.

Miniature Paintings - Miniature paintings are paintings which have very high and fine details on themselves. These paintings can only be made by professional artists of great experience and is an art passed on from father to son for centuries. Rajput miniatures which flourished under court patronage are still reproduced by the descendants of the original painters. These paintings are delicate work of fine art on fine hand made paper.

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.

Bandhani or the tie and dye work on woven fabrics, which have a glorious beginning in Marwar during Maldev's time has to its credit an identity of Rajasthani print for many centuries. A set number of motifs used with consummate artistry and a wonderfully imaginative combination of colours give bandhani prints their distinctive look.

Block Prints - 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 prints 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'. Darker shades of blues and reds are used by Barmer's printers, with belief that they provide a cool protection against the sun's scorching rays. From the other desert city, Jaisalmer, come some of the oldest designs; the speciality is the wax resistant art printing, a technique that creates some most unusual shades. The print on Jaisalmer wedding dress is a spectacular one, with a design of squares in red, pink and black.

Blue Pottery - This ancient craft is one of the oldest in Rajasthan and many schools of pottery still exist in different parts of the state. The most popular and unusual pottery is known as the blue pottery of Jaipur, the origins of which lie in Persia. Jaipur pottery is unique in appearance as it is the only pottery in the world that is made without using clay.

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. 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.

Terracotta - Mythological scenes and Gods, from the Hindu pantheon, particularly Ganesha, are painted on Terracotta wall plaques in Udaipur. Worshipping during the festival of Dussehra, the plaques make attractive wall-decorations and much more.

Patra & Metal Craft - The metal sheet to provide the cover and decorate the wooden object is called patra work. Various decorative products are made in Rajasthan like boxes, panels, vases, perforated lamps, tabletops, planters, picture frames, etc.

Traditional Jewellery - Enamelled jewellery is what Jaipur has been famous for centuries. This highly skilled craft came to Rajasthan in the 16th century, when Raja Sawai Man Singh was the ruler of Jaipur. 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 Jaipur, Bikaner, Udaipur and Jodhpur. Jaipur is the centre for gold ‘kundan’ work and a renowned centre for diamond and emerald cutting.

Rajasthan is equally well known for its rich variety of silver Jewellery and the abandon with which it is worn. Earrings, bracelets, heavy pendants in a multitude of designs, waistbands and anklets that tinkle musically with each step, these are the pride of every Rajasthani women. Each area has its own style, each ornament speaks a distinct poetry. 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.

Stone Craft - Varied composition and colours of stones are nature benifaction to Rajasthan. Makrana in Nagaur district is the major source of its marble. It is practically all-purpose and is used for making religious images, roofing, flooring, staircases, platforms, tombstones, furniture and tableware. However, it makes only domestic ware. The white marble is known as "sang-e-malmal" besause of its chaste white look. Marble is however in many colours, ranging from gentle rose and salom pink to soft green.

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