Marble Art from India

Culture rich India has several forms of stone artwork from different regions. Brilliantly painted marble from Rajasthan is one of best examples of such stone artwork and can best be described as ‘poetry in stone.’

Marble painting as an art form originated in Rajasthan during the sixteenth century. The Rajput kings and nobles of this state were dedicated patrons of arts and crafts. In Rajasthan there are around 4000 marble mines and since marble was readily available, it became the canvas for Rajput painters. Intricate images are drawn on stone and the brush of the painters seals it with eternal beauty. Although marble comes in varied hues of white, pink, gray and black, it is generally milky white marble which is used by artists to bring to life human figures, nature, landscapes, objects and animals. The artist successfully captures an image on marble and then uses his unique blend of color schemes to fill that image so that it catches the eye of every beholder.
Various objects with marble paintings make impressive gift items and decorative accessories, and can also be used to add that touch of Rajput royalty and elegance to a home.

A few distinct techniques and styles used in marble painting are:

• ‘Minakari’ work: Minakari is a method by which a design is engraved on marble and then painted with vibrant colors like red, green, black, yellow and blue.
• Devotional paintings: Legendary characters from Hindu epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata are painted on marble and bright colors are used to bring back the glory of the past.
• Jewelry paintings: This art has its origins in Jaipur and consists of a design being drawn on marble and skillfully made gold leaf being pasted on the jewelry design. Enamel colors as well as glass pieces are used to decorate the design and add to its intricate beauty.
• Miniature paintings: The use of delicate brush strokes can transform an ordinary marble tile into a showpiece worthy of being called a collector’s item. A common depiction is that of Indian musical instruments. These are painted with colors drawn from substances as varied as minerals, vegetables, conch shells and even gold and silver.

Marble paintings are influenced by local schools of art from Kishangarh, Jaipur, Kangra and Mandi. All major centers have their distinct style and many have attained expertise in the depiction of a certain aspect. The Kishangarh School can boast of having attained world class perfection in paintings of women. The Jaipur School focuses on mythological depictions. Many paintings depict local legends and famous royals like Pabuji, a Royal Rajput Prince who is revered by tribesmen for his valor. He fought and defeated the cruel cow-slaughtering ruler Mirza Khan. The brushes of the painters also depict the universal theme of the victory of good over evil through scenes from religious epics and eternal love through the life of Mumtaz and Shahjahan, the famous Mughal couple whose love story is immortalized in the Taj Mahal.

The marble paintings of Rajasthan make memorable and unique gifts for your loved ones. Each one is an exemplary display of the skill of local artisans. Some Handmade marble home decor items can be viewed in our Indian Home Decor collection at Cultural Elements

A Thousand Stories through A Hundred Objects

The BBC has launched a mammoth of a series in collaboration with the British Museum which will try understanding the history of the human race through a hundred sundry objects in the British Museum. The result is an amazing journey through time told through objects in the museum. Narrated by Neil MacGregor, the Director of the British Museum, this colossal project of Radio 4 promises to be very educating as well as see worthy.

The series called “A History of the World in 100 Objects”, takes viewers two million years back in time. The objects chosen from different locations world wide in various time periods will map the development of our human race till the present days. The weekly themes are devoted to specific topics which make the series even more interesting.

A look at the website devoted to this at bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld gives a good idea of how vast this project is. The pictures of various objects just seem to be hanging in a void and as one move up in time there is a sensation of entering a time warp where you can stop at any moment and explore.

The other interesting thing about the website is that the viewer has a great degree of control over how to arrange his journey through the two million years. For instance, one can chose to go through the objects on a region to region basis or chose a particular culture like the Aztecs or the Vikings. One can explore different materials like metal, cloth or gemstones down the ages or concentrate on themes like art, religion, sport or money. With so many categories to choose from viewers can personalize their exploration of world history as per their own interest.

Human history it is not only about stunning gems, jewelry or mummies. Many things which were part of the daily lives of the ancient people are as relevant or even more in making the world of today possible. These, then are an important part of our history. The kind of objects that one encounters in this program is really diverse. For instance, you will find the exotic Egyptian Anubis mask and also the simple stone hand axe made some 500,000 years ago with which our ancestors hunted for food.

Participation by museums across Britain will surely add much to this series. A program such as this will help not only trace the development of our race but will show the links between our various civilizations. Something very important in the world in which we are living now.

Pictured above: Gold Faberge cufflinks in form of Imperial Eagle. Copyright Harrogate Museums and Arts, Harrogate Borough Council

Egyptian Leather Work – African Gifts

Murals from 4000 BC depict Egyptians wearing high heels made of flexible leather pieces and held onto the foot with leather ties, while panels of gilded leather work appear in some of the tombs. One of the earliest examples of Egyptian leather work is a 980 BC canopy of appliqued leather. And the Egyptian Mathematical Leather Roll, featuring a table of fraction expansions, dates from the Middle Kingdom period.

Egyptians now offer us affordable and practical leather items like wallets, boxes, jackets, cigarette cases, shoes, bags, even dog collars, some accented with gold leaf.

Egyptian Mother of Pearl Furniture and Gifts

As early as 4500 BC, ancient Egyptians used mother of pearl as a personal ornament to make themselves more pleasing to the gods. Fragments of these ornaments, made of inlaid Mother of pearl and silver, still exist today. Mother of Pearl is made from the inside lining of shells like conch or of oyster pearls. A popular item today is the crochet necklace or bracelet of layered pearls and beads on a crocheted foundation.

Inlaid mother of pearl jewelry boxes made of wood or metal are another popular Egyptian handcraft. Constructed of abalone shell mother of pearl, hundreds of finely-cut pieces are hand set into wood or metal individually so that each box is different from others. Especially striking is the way colors are reflected from the surface as a result of how the pieces of pearl are arranged. Mother of pearl is also inlaid into decorative pieces that include silver gilt or gold into their designs.