Authentic. Handcrafted. Artisanal. Natural.
Forged Iron Works have held their own in the wide array of the Indian metal works repertoire. One finds small, entrepreneurial dwellings and workshops where the products are created, piece … Continue Reading Forged Iron Products: Source Online
Grasslands have fed wild animals, human populations and in general, protected earth from denudation and drought. Their contribution to Nature is plentiful and vital. In many rural areas across the … Continue Reading Grass Baskets: Eco-friendly Home and Living Ideas
Crochet Table Linen, Women’s tops and girls pretty dresses have always been highly sought after. Crochet, French for a hook, with which yarn, in cotton or wool, is looped continuously, … Continue Reading Crochet Mats and Tops – Andhra Pradesh
Cutlery! In India, generations have always eaten using their fingers. Ladles and large spoons were for stirring pots and ladling lentils and rice. Eating has always required the involvement of … Continue Reading Ethnic Wooden Cutlery of Udayagiri
Kalamkari Sarees are a work of great skill and labour. Kalam-Pen, Kari-Work, in translation, means working with a pen. This is done using painting and dyeing techniques that are laborious, … Continue Reading Kalamkari Sarees from Andhra, India
Tamil Nadu, in Southern India, has numerous examples of a Golden Age and the pinnacle of architecture and carvings, in its ancient temples at Mahabalipuram and Tanjavur, to name just two. The carving in particular, in stone and wood, are hallmarks of great skill and expertise. This ancient craft and the living tradition that it communicates, flows into the present in a continuum
The Calcutta Needlework is the craft that comes from the legacy of Colonial India, which had been nurtured to perfection over time. The themes present are floral, pleasant and the stitches finely done to ensure that the threads are tightly held together. The usual range of Calcutta Needlework includes table linen, bed-clothes, runners, mats, napkins and also sofa-backs.
Kantha Sarees are highly sought after and often collected over time by Indian women who prize delicate hand-embroidered sarees, as much as they do their jewellery! This embroidery is distinct in that it using running stitches to, as if, draw out pictorial representations of Nature. The Lotus flower, running vines, chirping birds and delicate floral patterns are brought to life using a fine needle and cotton thread. The embroidered is done on Cotton and Silk, with the colors ranging from neutral earthy tones to more vibrant, bright blues, oranges and browns.
The Kalighat paintings get their name from their proximity to the Kali Temple, Kalighat, Kolkata. These originated in the 19th Century using water colours on cloth or patas. Goddess Kali remained the central theme, with depictions of other deities and eventually scenes from the Ramayana.