Indian Art and Handicrafts
India's vast cultural diversity has resulted in a treasure trove of handicrafts. The cultural exuberance and composite tradition that make this blend has found full expression in heart-warming creations of master craftspersons. These creators are extraordinary and have inherited and honed ancestral skills to perfection. India is also a country where time honoured traditions coexist in prefect harmony with the best of modernity.
History of Indian Handicrafts :
Excavations have found inroads into very ancient times. Archeology has revealed the secrets preserved by the earth in its crust. Excavations of tools help us understand the nature of production and the aesthetic standards of the period to which they belong. The particular period and appeal of a handicraft item can be gauged from the number of industries, technique of production, types of goods produced and materials used. This state reflects the aesthetic sense of the people, curvature of objects, lines, space, light and shades. An examination of the visual arts, such as Indian Sculpture, Indian Paintings and Indian Terra-cotta unveil the element of art. Not all crafts were produced for daily needs.Tools used today reflect the traditions of the early age, as old as the Stone Age. The rural and tribal artisans use processes and techniques inherited by them from their forefathers in the creation of their crafts. Though the tools used in that age were mainly for survival purposes, the making of these tools required considerable amount of skill.
The Stone Age man adopted the 'hammer stone' method to make flake tools. This require striking the mass stone near the edge at an angle of 120 degrees with the convex surface of a water worn pebble selected as hammer stone. This was perfected and put to use in the making of hand axes. Tools are a very important component of this art. This is the beginning of the age long tradition of handicrafts.
Crafts in India :
Metal Crafts : The line dividing craft and fine arts is practically indistinguishable in the metal craft of India. Gold silver, brass, copper and bell metal are shaped into intricately designed images, idols, jewelery and utility items, having a finish and style unique in appeal.
Gold and Silverware : The princely States of India demanded not only enameled jewelery but also enameled utensils such as wine, cups, finger bowls, pill boxes etc., in both gold and silver prepossess, sometimes studded with jewels. The craftspersons of India excel in this art. With the evolution of new tools, technique and skills, they are now better equipped to cater to modern tastes. Fully geared to meet modern market demands, today the gold and silver plated articles produced are usually plain or, even when ornamented are devoid of extensive encrustation. Portions of silver ,articles are sometimes covered with gold water. The designs thus formed are known as GANGA JAMUNA pattern from the Ganga and the Yamuna rivers which meet at Allahabad and flow together.
Pottery : Eye-catching articles of functional and decorative value are fashioned by the skillful potters of India. The crafts person 0f KHURJA in Uttar Pradesh have evolved a style of their own by raising the pattern with the use of thick slips into a light relief. Glazes in Warm shades of autumnal colors like orange, brown, and light red have also been developed by them. Floral designs in sky blue are worked against blue background. A type of pitches like a pilgrim bottle, decorated in relief by a thick slip is especially of Khujra.
Stone Craft and Marble Inlay Work : It's amazing how odd blocks of stone are cut shaped, inlaid and published into beautiful objects of everyday use by the skillful craftspersons of India.RAJASTHAN may be called the land of marble with its stone in various colors and textures.
Metal Ornamentation : Metal ornaments have been a rave in all ages and times. The II tractive contrasts in colors and textures of metals has led to the evolution of the metal ornamentation through techniques like inlay, overlay, applique, fixing of colours etc.
Enamelling : Enameling is the art of coloring and ornamenting the surface of the metal by using over it various mineral substances. The beauty of the article depends on the skill and resource of the worker and the excellence of the material employed. The range of colors obtained on gold is much greater than that on silver, copper and brass. Three forms of enameling are known to exist. These include the "CLOISONNE OF JAPAN AND CHINA", the "CHAM LEV PATTERN" extensively practiced in Lucknow and Varanasi and Jaipur specializes in enameled trays and trinket boxes.
Precious And Semi-Precious Stones : India's fame in precious and semi-precious stones was well established before the arrival of the British. The land that spells royalty is the home of nameless precious and semi-precious stones like "MOTHER OF PERALS", "RUBIS", "SAPPHIRES", "LAPIS", "LAZULI", 'AQUAMATINES", "AMETHYSTS" and others. The process of transforming a rough stone into a shapely object of beauty and luster calls for a great degree of skill in which Indian craftsmen are adept to the core.
COSTUME JEWELLARY : For the hi-fashion women of today there is nothing quite like the offbeat style of self adornment - pick the style that suits most. For, with the passing of centuries, the old appears offbeat today, having an irresistible lure for women the world over.India is one of the most important countries for the manufacture and export of costume jewelery. It has the largest productions base for glass beads.
Embroidery : In the field of ornamentation, embroidery alone can match , Jewelery. It is an expression of emotions, rendered with patient labor which induces grace and elegance into articles of everyday use.Noor Jehan, wife of the Mughal Emperor is said to have introduced art of CHICKEN to Uttar Pradesh. The chicken work of Lucknow patterned on lace is delicate and Subtle. The stitch by its sheer excellence provides ornamentation to the material. The charm lies in the minuteness of the floral motifs, stitches chill used are Satin stitch, button hole stitch, dar stitch, knot stitch, netting and appliqué work which brings a charming shadowy effect on lac Embroidery done in metal wires by "KALLABUT" or "ZARI' as It is popularly called, is in a class by itself. The heavier and more elaborate work is called "ZARDOZI". The ground material used I heavy silk, velvet or satin. Salma sitara, badia, katoru, seed pearls a used for decoration Kamdani, a lighter needle work done on lighter maternal, Produces a lovely glittering effect, especially in designs known as HAZAlTA BOOTI, thousands dots, done with zari thread. Kamdanl is used for, weaving apparel such as scarves, veils, caps etc.
