Arts and Crafts
of Rajasthan
Rajasthan is among the richest states in the country as far as the
field of arts and crafts is concerned. May be it was a result of the
war-like lifestyle of the people of Rajasthan which sharpened the
creative senses, artistic skills and inspired them to create the
most opulent and richest of treasures. Stone, clay, leather, wood,
ivory, lac, glass, brass, silver, gold and textiles were given the
most brilliant forms.
Art flourished in this region as far back as 2nd-1st centuries BC
and continued over the centuries. In Baroli, in the Hadoti region,
presence of several sculptures proves that a regular art school
existed in the 10th century. The cave paintings, terracotta and
other stone sculptures excavated at different sites corroborate
this.
Each period of history saw its own contribution to the thriving art
scene. History of Rajasthan reveals that the kings and their nobles
were patrons of arts and crafts and they encouraged their craftsmen
in activities ranging from wood and marble carving to weaving,
pottery and painting. And art seems to have been an obsessed with
the
inhabitants of this parched landscape. The desire to decorate their
surroundings was very strong. Nothing was overlooked animals from
the regal elephant to the lowly donkey, the great palaces and the
inner chambers of forbidding forts were decorated with as much
attention as were the walls of humble mud huts. The inhabitants were
not too far behind when it came to adorning themselves and it was
not only the women who beautified themselves the heroic warriors
extended equal attention to their clothing and armour they went into
battles with meticulously ornamented swords and shields. The horses
and elephants that took the warriors to battles received the same
care jewelled saddles and intricate silver howdas were just some of
the ornaments that were used to adorn them.
For women there was infinite variety tie and dye fabrics,
embroidered garments, enamel jewellery inlayed with precious and
semi-precious stones, leather jootis. They put their lives indoors
to very good use by decorating their surroundings on the walls of
their mud-huts were painted geometric designs as well as simple m s
like flowers and birds. Also tile women folk made intricate patterns
Out doors shaped straw and twine to turn into the most beautiful
items.
When the Rajputs came to dominate this region, it was a period of
constant strife. They were almost always in battle with their
neighbouring kingdoms When a kingdom fell and a new ruler took over,
it was time for change paintings depicting the new rulers victory,
scenes from the battle and processions of the victorious march were
faithfully reproduced on the walls and handmade paper. Other than
the paintings, the new rulers also influenced the existing crafts of
that area. Despite their love for the battlefield, the Rajputs have
been patrons of art and also their 350 years of contact with the
Mughals led to a very strong influence on their lives and arts.
Quite a few folk arts received the refinement and delicacy of the
Mughal courts. They borrowed freely from the Agra and Delhi courts
and in some cases, also sent their skilled craftsmen to adorn the
Mughal courts.
Jaipur meenakari is famed for its delicacy and its use of colours.
Pratapgarh and Nathdwara are two other centres which produce fine
quality enamel work.
Jewelery: Rajasthan is rich in jewellery, each area having its own
unique style. Some of the traditional designs are rakhri, tirnaniyan,
bala, bajuband, gajra, gokhru, jod, etc. Tribal women wear heavy,
simply crafted jewellery and seem to carry the weight (almost up to
five kgs) without much discomfort almost all the time. Men too wear
their share of ornaments in the form of chockers and earrings.
Ivory: The ivory bangles that most Rajasthani women wear are
considered auspicious. Ivory is also inlaid and shaped into
intricate items of great beauty. Miniature paintings were also
executed on ivory.
Lac and Glass: Lac bangles are made in bright colours and sometimes
inlaid with glass. Other decorative and functional items are also
available.
Sandalwood and Wood: Carved wood is presented in a wide range of
objects and is simple and inexpensive.
Stone: Statues on religious themes are carved all over Rajasthan and
in several cities there are still entire lanes where the stone
carvers can be seen giving final touches to statues or even pillars.
Other crafts like blue pottery, hand block printing, tie and dye,
terracotta sculptures, painting on camel hide, embroidery, cloth
painting, carpets, durries, inlay work on brass and wood are to be
found all over Rajasthan. |
