Arts and Crafts of Rajasthan

In the context of the arts and crafts, Rajasthan has been a land of great patronage. As blood mixed, the cultures intermingled, bringing new skills, palettes and textures. This book opens a new world of arts and crafts -- developed to fulfill rural needs.

For centuries, the state of Rajasthan in northwestern India was ruled by a succession of kings. Royal patrons demanded exuberance and ostentation in the arts and crafts they fervently supported. Complex embroidery designs, latticed balconies, stained-glass windows and ornate palace ceilings are among the marvels displayed in this showcase. Yet Rajasthani art, so influenced by contact with Mughal invaders, is passionately humanistic even as it gazes heavenward. A down-to-earth quality pervades folk paintings, a wooden carving of a married couple and vibrant dhurries or handwoven rugs. With chapters by Indian scholars and artisans, this ambitious survey scans current activity in age-old crafts, from jewelry to leather. The authors, art historians who traveled through Rajasthan photographing its people and culture, note the creeping effects of mass production and consumerism on still-vital traditions.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.