|
|
|
|
|
|
 Agra's
Zardoji
Agra's Zardoji is
very unique art of
embroidery in three
dimension's. The
artist first makes
free hand sketches
of this subjects.
Then he embroiders
in cotton threads
over and over till
he gets the required
thickness and
movements. Finally
the artists takes
fibre from silk
threads, twists then
together in the
shades required for
and embroiders with
them the particular
piece. In the
process he creates
original unparallel
work of art. |
 The
Chikankari
Embroidery of
Lucknow
The delicate art of
embroidery
traditionally
practiced in the
city of Lucknow and
it’s environs is
known as ‘Chikankari’.
The name ‘chikan’
seems to have been
derived from the
Persian word, either
‘Chikan’, ‘Chikin’
or ‘Chikeen’. It
means a kind of
cloth wrought with
needle–work.
Although it
originated as a
court craft, today
it is a practiced
tradition and an
important commercial
activity.
Chikan work has a
very light, gossamer
– like quality. This
makes it very
suitable for the
seemingly hot
climate of the
northern plain
region. It can be
assumed that
Chikankari, using
sheer fabrics
evolved as a logical
answer to the
problem of keeping
cool and also
providing adornment
and beauty to one’s
person or in the
surroundings. |
 Metal
ware
Uttar Pradesh is the
largest Brass and
Copper making state
in India with
thousands of
establishments. In
domestic-ware each
of the scores of
lotas (small
water-pots) is known
by the name of its
origin, like Etawah,
Banaras, Sitapur,
etc. The ritual
articles are largely
in copper like
tamrapatra (pot for
storing water);
panchapatra for
holding in all the
articles needed for
worship; simhasan a
seat for the deity;
kanchanthal, plate
for offering flowers
and sweets, and a
host of such things. |
 Zari
Work of Varanasi
Banaras besides
being a holy place
also has the
distinction of being
a world famous
center of hand-made
textiles. The
ancient traditions
of weaving is more
preserved in Banaras
than anywhere else.
The main products
are Zari and
brocades.
Brocades are
textiles woven with
warp & weft threads
of different colors
and often of
different materials
. The brocades are
woven in silk with
profuse use of metal
threads in ‘pallars’
(endpieces) and the
field of the sari. |
 Carpets
and Floor Coverings
The largest
concentration of
carpet weaving in
the country is in
Uttar Pradesh with
90 percent of the
production and 75
percent of the
weavers. The main
centers are Mirzapur,
Bhadohi, Khamaria
and about 500
villages in this
area. They have some
special designs of
their own like the
Taj Mahal, in
natural colour or
any tint, Sirdar in
plain body and
subdued colours with
hand embossed or
hand carved borders
in rose-beige,
honey-beige, ivory
and soft green. They
also make use of the
18th century designs
with short clippings
of the yarn around
the contours of the
pattern to give it a
sculpturesque look.
Mostly pastel shades
are used but
intermingled with
bright colours.
The design is
carefully prepared
on a graph paper
with extreme care.
Twisted cotton
thread is used for
the finer weaves and
sometimes jute twine
for the rougher
qualities. The
weaver twists the
thread into two-warp
threads for weaving
and ties the knot.
The carpets of this
region are mostly in
medium quality and
the knots are around
60 per sq. inch as
the sculptured
styled carpets do
not call for a large
number of knots.
These carpets are
popular export items
today. |
|
Handprinting
Farrukhabad in Uttar
Pradesh is a
veritable treasure
house of traditional
designs ranging from
the classical butis
(dots) to the famous
' Tree of Life ',
The butis are
restful even though
sparkling when
tinted in solid
colors. Mango,
‘paisley’ as it is
known in the West,
is made in a vast
variety of shapes,
and used in bold,
medium and even fine
designs.
The composition is
first printed in
harmonizing colors
and later elaborated
with delicate
details painted in
with a brush. A
variety of blossoms
merge in this
luxuriant tree. It
is primarily a
decorative piece
unrelated to any
symbol but has a
flavour of growth,
prosperity and
immorality. The
spirited heraldic
lions that guard the
tree speak of a
Hindu tradition. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
