Handicraft items belong to the most diverse family of people and traditions; as most of us know, India is a cultural explosion like no other country, globally.
11 Handmade Indian Items You Must Know About
Numerous art and craft items belong to native India; however, known to only a few. Here is a list of some handcrafted products in India that you can buy online:
Jaipur Blue Pottery
Blue pottery pieces are exquisite works of art dyed with the stubbing cobalt blue eye. It arrived in India during the 14th century, with Turkic invasions. Blue pottery was earlier used as architectural decoration. Later, it evolved as ornamental art.
Finally, blue pottery finds its way from Delhi to Jaipur. The production of these pieces is not from clay, but a dough of quartz, Multani mitti, water, borax, and gum. You may find the art on plates, saucers, jars, alongside modern pieces of art. These got extinct during the 1950s. Some of them were preserved by Kripa Singh Shekhawat and Gayatri Devi.
With such beautiful aesthetics and rich history, it is a defining handicraft of India. You can browse Jaipur Blue Pottery pieces on SilkRute.
2. Dhokra Art
Based in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, Dhokra art is one of the few prehistoric metal-casting arts still alive today. Dhokra is a ‘lost-wax casting’ technique, in which a mold is prepared around the wax figure. This is later heated, melting the wax. Metal is poured in, usually bronze or brass. After the metal cools down, the figurine is extracted from the mold.
Dhokra is an eco-friendly handicraft that utilizes scrap metal, making it sustainable. Each piece is unique, one of a kind, that reflects the art of its maker. If one wishes to own one for themselves, plenty of Indian online handicraft outlets are available.
3. Aranmula Kannadi
Decorated with its Geographical Indication tag in 2004, the Aranmula mirrors are a product of ancient sciences. Handcrafted by one single extended family for generations now. The Aranmula Mirrors are famous globally among the handmade products from India. They are composed of metal alloys, the exact composition is a trade secret. The reflections of the mirrors are concrete in detail. The Aranmula mirrors can be found online, with retailers working directly with skilled artisans.
4. Bidriware
Bidriware is an Indian handicraft born out of Bidar, nurtured in the 14th century under the Bahmani Sultans. It is a mixture of Persian, as well as Arabic craft, which further evolved in India. It is a very delicate and expensive metal craft that utilizes precious metals. A blackened alloy of zinc and copper with silver sheets is molded, filed, and then chiseled.
5. Mysore Rosewood Inlay
The Mysore Rosewood Inlay is one of the most extensive handcrafted items in India. The Mysore Rosewood Inlay is an intricate wood handicraft. It is made through a variety of techniques. It displays one of the most beautiful rosewood carvings one could find. Also, door frames, mandaps, furniture sets, and figurines of deities are locally crafted.
6. Thanjavur Art Plates
The Thanjavur Plate came into existence during the Maratha rule under Rajah Serfoji-II. Instructed by him to his craftsmen to be made as a royal memorial/gift; the art form flourished. The Thanjavur Plates are a popular gifting choice among handcrafted Indian products online.
These plates are divided into three layers: a base layer made out of copper, and two reliefs made of silver. The skills that are required to make just one plate are very diverse. One needs to have metal-smiths, jewelers, and a diamond-encrusting expert.
7. Terracotta and Clay work of Assam
Recognized in both the country and abroad, the terracotta works of Assam are well renowned. It is an ancient art survived by the generations of Terracotta artists. The ‘Hira’ and ‘Kumhar’ communities are involved in the making of two types of works. The Hiras use the compression method to create household items, whereas the kumhars use the wheel to sculpt artistic items.
8. Kalamkari Art
The Kalamkari Art from Andhra Pradesh is a block printing art form. The word ‘Kalam’ means ‘pen’ in Telugu and ‘Kari’ for the word ‘Art’. The process is vast; as it includes using black ink on a cotton cloth. Then, the ink dye is sourced from roots, and mineral salts. The art depicts scenery and scenes from sacred texts. It is a popular Indian handicraft export.
9. Chamba Rumal
Embroidered on hand-spun and hand-woven khadi, Chamba hails from Himachal Pradesh. It thrived through the 18th and 20th centuries under the patronage of the Chamba rulers. The handkerchief or ‘rumal’ depicts distinctive lush sceneries with bright colors. You can use it as a gifting item as the embroidery is detailed and knot-free; silk, khaddar, and muslin threads are common items.
10. Ajrak Block Prints
Ajrak is a form of block-printed textile. This style of block prints is popular in Rajasthan, Kutch in Gujarat, and SindPakistan. These prints are handmade by the resist printing method, on both sides of the fabric. The printing consists of a long repetitive process spanning days as patterns are geometric or floral and are grid-like. The dyes used are natural plant and mineral-based.
11. Kolhapuri Chappal
The Kohlapuri Chappals is a 13th-century tradition, handcrafted out of leather and tanned using natural dyes. King Bijjala forwarded this fashion to the shoe-making cottage industry. The Kohlapuri’s are extremely popular in the country and were a fancy essential of the 60s. These open-toe sandals have a majestic look and serve as reliable footwear. You can find a great collection of Kohlapuri’s on SilkRute.
Conclusion
The above-mentioned handmade products were some of the unique handicrafts from India; though there are many more still left to explore.
