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The usual
Rajasthani handicraft are available here, but Jodhpur
specialises in antiques. The Ajit Bhawan with the Umaid
Bhawan and the well known Abani Handicraft is next to
Tourist Bungalow. You will be hard pressed to find any
bargains, though this is no reflection on the generally
excellent quality of the goods available. The tie and dye
fabric, embroidered ‘jutis’ or slippers in suede, cancel
skin, velvet and more color to the city. It was form here
that the popularly worn baggy-tight horse riding trousers, -
"Jodhpurs", took their name.
Tie and Dye :
This form of printing possibly best identifies Rajasthani
fabric. Tie and dye or bandhani is one of the most popular
fabric styles all over India. In this, the fabric is tied
with threads conforming to a pattern and dyed several times
for different colours. The tied portion of the cloth retains
the original colour, thus resulting in intricate designs and
patterns when the knots are opened up. A variety of styles
are used in this technique, chunari (dotted), lahariya
(diagonal striped waves) and mothra (large dots) are some of
the popular ones. Sikar and Jodhpur are the most popular
centres for tie and dye.
Leather ware :
The hides of dead animals have never been put to better use
than in Rajasthan, whether as juttees - the embroidered
footwear the people wear - or as saddles, bags and pouches.
It is even used as backs for chairs after it has been
embroidered with woollen motifs. For something so ordinarily
functional, it is amazing how the leather - beaten, tanned
and dyed - is given over to such consummate artistry. The
leather is punched and gouged to create patterns, studded
and sequined for effect, and embroidered and stitched so
that a pair of slip-on shoes becomes a statement of style.
Jodhpur and Jaipur are the traditional centres for juttees.
A variety of juttees are available here in different shapes
and styles and embroidered with coloured thread.
Metal Crafts :
The tradition of metal crafts probably arose from the
warrior’s need to embellish his armour. In later years the
art of enamelling became merely decorative and in Rajasthan,
has been used for everything - from tabletops to wall
plates, flasks and for crafting objects d’art. Usually done
with brass, it has a tinsel-like quality unless the base
itself is heavy enough to carry off the work successfully.
However, the silversmith does a better job with a range of
statuary that is stunning once patterned into animal
figures, an orchestra of musicians, or caparisoned elephants
with human figures atop a howdah. These enamelled silver
pieces are some of the finest examples of the jeweller and
metal smith working together. Brassware, enamelled, engraved
and filigree cut work on silver are available in Rajasthan.
Jodhpur, Jaipur and Alwar are prime centres for metal ware.
Paintings :
A Rajasthani’s love for colour and art has found expression
in the various kinds of paintings that have developed here
over the years. Miniature paintings, portrait and courtly
paintings, murals, cloth and furniture painting, mehndi or
henna, domestic painting and mandana, or the art of
decorating houses are some of these.
The miniature paintings of Rajasthan are world famous for
their intricate detail and vibrant colours. From the 16th
century onwards, various schools of paintings flourished in
Rajasthan. Some of the important ones are Mewar, Marwar,
Amber, Kishangarh and Hadoti. These paintings vividly render
hills, valleys, gardens, palaces, courts and religious
processions. Themes from the Ramayana, Krishna Lila and the
Gita Govindam have also been pictorially translated. The
colours used for the paintings were made of minerals,
vegetables, precious stones, conch shells and metals like
gold and silver. Jaipur, Jodhpur, Nathdwara and Kishangarh
are some of the centres still engaged in this art form.
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. |
