Tag: Crafts

• January 19, 2015

  The Embroidery of Life: Needle Crafts and Colors of Kutch

  Amidst the barren desert landscape of the western border towns of India, smatterings of color are a representation of life, appearing as adornments on the bodies of the beautiful tribes. Embroidery, here, is not a glorious vocation but part of the daily fabric of how a day is spent. It isn’t uncommon to walk among […]
• July 24, 2014

  Passing on a Precious Legacy: The Handloom School in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh

  Among the many treasures of India, the heritage derived through a Handloom is one of the most exquisite.  This tradition has been celebrated in the past by kings and commoners alike, but the future looks sadly uncertain. According to the 2011 Census data, nearly seven million families are involved in earning their bread through weaving […]
• May 16, 2014

  In the Bazaars of Hyderabad

  What do you sell, O ye merchants? Richly your wares are displayed, Turbans of crimson and silver, Tunics of purple brocade, Mirrors with panels of amber, Daggers with handles of jade. What do you weigh, O ye vendors? Saffron, lentil and rice. What do you grind, O ye maidens? Sandalwood, henna and spice. What do […]
• March 30, 2014

  The Wood-carvers of Pethapur, Gujarat

  Examples of the art of dyeing fabrics exist from the period of the Indus Valley Civilisation, however the origins of block carving are now lost among the pages of history. It is believed that this art was developed and specialised by artisans who were traditionally carpenters and the techniques may have been borrowed from Iran at the […]