Eternal India Encyclopedia

Eternal India encyclopedia

HANDICRAFTS

PAPIER-MACHE

musical instruments. The production covers all traditional musical instruments as well as certain string Western instruments. Mysore in Karnataka is also known for making instrument especially the 'veena'. Kerala is famous for making certain mu- sical instruments like mridangam, naga- swaram, veena, sruti box, etc. LEATHER The manufacture of leather articles is carried out all over Rajasthan. Shoes meant for rural use have bold patterns in bright col- ours. For city people and tourists there are the boat-shaped slip-on shoes called mojvis made mostly in Jodhpur and Jaipur, which are delicately embroidered and fin- ished. In Lucknow, Hyderabad (A.P.) and other places embroidered shoes are very popular. In Tamil Nadu, Kanpur, etc. shoe- making is a major industry. Many decorative articles in leather have come up in Shantiniketan, Bolpur (W. Ben- gal). Semi-leather seats are also made using wooden or bamboo frames and legs. As their use in this country is limited they are mostly exported. Artistic handmade leather goods made in Bengal with geometrical, floral and figu- rative motifs are attractive. The product range covers handbags, wallets, cushion covers, etc. Batik work in leather is also popular. Delhi leather workers make tradi- tional decorative jootis (shoes).

A craft technique that involves building up layers of pasted paper, which is then baked or left to harden — used for trays, decorative objects, and even furniture, it is often painted, lacquered, or decorated with mother of pearl. The technique of making papier-mache began in the orient and reached Europe sometime in the 18th century. This craft is engaged in by artisans in Patna and other parts of Bihar. Masks used in the Chhau dance are the main item of pro- duction, while figures of different kinds of birds for decorative purposes are also made. Kashmir is known for its papier-mache work. The most frequently used hazarana (thousand) pattern seeks to display every conceivable flower. Other floral patterns include the chinar leaf, iris, Persian rose, almond and cherry blossom, while bird forms are the kingfisher and bulbul. Pure gold is still used in gold leaf or line. In Madhya Pradesh important centres of this art are Gwalior, Ujjain and Indore. Prod- ucts include human figures, birds, animals, deities, etc. Jaipur specialises in toys and exquisite birds. In Orissa, artisans in Marapur and Subarnapur (near Cuttack) and Barpali, Chikati "and Parlakhemedi (Ganjam) pro- duce folk toys with detachable limbs like nodding tigers and elephants, old men and women with comic faces as well as charac- ters from mythology. Miraj in Maharashtra is an important centre for the manufacture of musical string instruments like the Tampura, Sitar, Dilruba, Sarangi, Bhajani Veena and Etal. The tribals in the north-eastern state of Meghalaya are known for their love of musi- cal instruments - dhak, kora, shehnai, turi or brass trumpet. They have now taken to the guitar. A guitar making unit at Sohryugkham makes guitars worth Rs.6000 annually. Rajasthan has a rich variety of folk music and musical instruments. The impor- tant ones still used are the rawanhatha, an instrument of the violin family played with a bow, the jantar of the harp family, the Sindhi sarangi, a string instrument, and the satara, consisting of two flutes played simultane- ously and made of bored wood. MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

Karigiri in Tamil Nadu (South Arcot dis- trict) specialises in pottery of highly artistic shapes, original colours and glazes and at- tractive ornamentation. Goan pottery has a charm and style of its own. The products include domestic ware - attractive water and flower pots - and a wide range of sculpture like figures - man and woman, mother with child etc. Karimnagar in Andhra Pradesh is noted for its silver filigree work, ash-trays, ciga- rette cases, boxes etc and perfume contain- ers in the shape of a peacock, parrot or fish. Rajkot, Porbunder, Kutch and Mandvi in Gujarat are famous for their silver work. Items produced are vases, trays, jewellery boxes, powder boxes, etc. Rajasthan produces a wide range of sil- ver jewellery - necklaces, pendants, ear studs, carvings, etc. Nathdwara is an im- portant centre for enamelled silver jewel- lery. Imitation and costume jewellery is also made in Rajasthan. FILIGREE AND SILVER WARE

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Uttar Pradesh is the most important centre for the manufacture and export of