India
- A Shoppers Paradise :
India, the country which boasts of its rich culture has to its credit the
diversity in its, costumes, traditions. India has a wealth of knowledge and
skills, which have been passed down from generation to generation. Rajasthan
and Gujarat stand out above other states for their colourful embroidery,
mirror work, quilting and fabric printing.
The variety of art and craft in India can be attributed to it's variety in
climates, geography and culture. Different states and regions predominate in
art and craft, which is unique to that area. Kashmir is widely known for its
Pashmina wool shawls as well as carpets, silverware and ivories, while
engraved and enameled meenakari brassware can be found in Rajasthan. Certain
regions are famous for crystals and semi precious stones. You can witness
the richness of colours in Indian textiles in the seven-meter silk sarees
and the intricate detailed work in small silk brocades from Varanasi.
Every handicraft sold in the country is made by tightly knit communities.
Agra's marble workers whose shops look out on to labyrinthine by lanes in
the area around the Taj Mahal, for instance, are the descendants of those
who lavished the Taj Mahal's walls with pietra dura. In Ahmedabad, Gujarat,
narrow alleyways still bear the names of those guilds that once lived in
them. It is possible to actually watch craftsmen at work in any city or town
in INDIA.
Each state in the country has something different to offer. The theme
shopper who wants to collect only paintings can buy miniature paintings on
silk, marble tiles, parchment or ivory from each of the several schools of
miniature paintings in the country; religious paintings on pressed rags from
Orissa and simplistic tribal graphics from Madhuban in Bihar and Warli in
Maharashtra. Textiles, wooden dowry chests, embroideries - all these
produced in various corners of the country, each being unique in its design
element and in its motifs.
Sarees
are the best known subjects of daily wear. Widely used by much of India's
female population, sarees range from gossamer thin Chanderis woven in silk
to the thick Kanjeevaram silks of Tamil Nadu. Both types are distinguished
by the restrained use of motifs, but ikats from Orissa, in hand spun cottons
of earthy colours, are woven with traditional motifs of a highly distinctive
blurred appearance, obtained by precise dyeing and weaving techniques.
Indian sarees take as their theme parrots or elephants, seashells or
stylized flowers, and sometimes an architectural motif - geometrical
patterns or Muslim architectural details are also echoed in sarees.
Handicrafts can be classified by the medium to which they are worked on.
Objects of wood that range from fragrant sandalwood to ebony are carved,
sculptured or inlaid with brass wire, ivory or mother of pearl. Stonework
includes marble mosaics inlaid with semi precious stones and soapstone
carvings. Metalwork ranges from enameled brassware and bronze religious
statuary to 'lost wax' folk art figures. Pottery encompasses terracotta toys
from rural India to ornamental objects distinguished by bright blue motifs
and a high glaze. Ivory carvings of incredible intricacy and miniature
paintings on ivory represent crafts of classical tradition, just as cane and
bamboo crafts highlight everyday art.
Gold jewellery, sumptuous silk brocades woven with gold thread and pure
silk carpets of Persian designs are collector's items which are bought both
for their beauty as also for their investment value.
Of course, traditional handicrafts are not the only buys from INDIA. High
fashion, quality leather jackets, shoes and handbags are also available in
sheep's leather and cowhide; designs for silver and costume jewellery change
with international fashions; lamb's wool winter-wear of Indian make is
widely exported; and household linen is prized for its durability and
attractive designs. Durries, woven with cotton rugs, which were once
available only in ethnic designs, have now found their way into many
exclusive stores in USA and Europe, in colourways that conform to
international fashion preference. In India, they are available at far less
than the price they command elsewhere.
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