The
valley of Kashmir is perhaps best known for the craft of papier
maché which was brought to it by a Kashmiri prince who spent
years in a prison at Samarkand in Central Asia. Soaked waste
paper, cloth, rice straw and copper sulphate are kneaded into a
pulp which is then pressed on to clay, wood or metal moulds. Once
it solidifies, it is coated with a white layer of gypsum and glue
and then rubbed smooth. Finally the piece is sand papered and
painted with colourful Persian floral motifs.
In
the hands of Indian craftsmen, horn, shola pith, coconut
shell, tortoise shell, conch shell and papier maché are used to
create excellent products. Combs made out of horn are very common
and are made in different forms. Some combs are traditional,
double sided with gentle carvings on them, others more decorative
with ivory or mother of pearl inlay. Items like small animals and
birds, toy furniture, buttons, trays, cigarette cases and lamps
are also made.
Andhra
Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh are some of
the well-known states for horn work. Shola is a plant
growing wild in marshy water logged areas. The shola pith
has been utilised in Bengal, Orissa and Assam as art decorations.
The artists are said to have begun with making decorations for the
deities from very early times. The most masterly work is
decorating the big deities at festivals, like Durga for Dussehra
celebrations. Craftsmen in Tamil Nadu are famous for structures in
pith products. They make remarkable models of temples like Rock
Temple and famous monuments of India. Pith flowers are made in
Karnataka's sandalwood belt and in Maharashtra. In Andhra Pradesh,
the tortoise shell (along with ivory) is used for making trinket
boxes.
A
variety of articles are made of coconut shell. Kerala produces
bowls, vases, roses, teapots, lamps and many other items. The
coconut pith is used to make animal and human figures, toys, dolls
and Kathakali models.Bengal
produces the most decorative measuring bowls by hollowing the
coconut tree trunk. Conch in India has religious and social
significance since time immemorial. Excavations have revealed
numerous conch shell products, including some inlay work requiring
great skill. Bengal is known as the home of the conch shell (shankh).
Here, the shell bangle symbolises marriage. A variety of items
like plain white bangles and coloured bangles are made with shankh.
In Kerala small items of daily use are made. A large variety of
items are made with cowries, the small closed in-shells. It is
used to make necklaces for animals and for decoration on the lids
of trinket boxes, on hand and shoulder bags and shawls.
In
the Mughal times, the silken surface of papier maché was found
ideal as the ground for miniature painting, as also for preparing
important state documents. Kashmiri craftsmen make a large variety
of utility articles. Some items like bowls and vases are brass
lined to widen the scope of their utility. Elaborate designs are
also done. Madhya Pradesh produces papier maché toys while
craftsmen from Tamil Nadu contribute excellent figures which are
remarkably expressive.
well-known states for horn work. Shola is a plant
growing wild in marshy water logged areas. The shola pith
has been utilised in Bengal, Orissa and Assam as art decorations.
The artists are said to have begun with making decorations for the
deities from very early times. The most masterly work is
decorating the big deities at festivals, like Durga for Dussehra
celebrations. Craftsmen in Tamil Nadu are famous for structures in
pith products. They make remarkable models of temples like Rock
Temple and famous monuments of India. Pith flowers are made in
Karnataka's sandalwood belt and in Maharashtra. In Andhra Pradesh,
the tortoise shell (along with ivory) is used for making trinket
boxes.
produces the most decorative measuring bowls by hollowing the
coconut tree trunk. Conch in India has religious and social
significance since time immemorial. Excavations have revealed
numerous conch shell products, including some inlay work requiring
great skill. Bengal is known as the home of the conch shell (shankh).
Here, the shell bangle symbolises marriage. A variety of items
like plain white bangles and coloured bangles are made with shankh.
In Kerala small items of daily use are made. A large variety of
items are made with cowries, the small closed in-shells. It is
used to make necklaces for animals and for decoration on the lids
of trinket boxes, on hand and shoulder bags and shawls. 