India: Hand-made
Posted on September 13, 2008 in Art & Culture by Lalita
Tourists from all over the world come to India mainly for its culture, temples and crafts. Indian hand-made crafts have an old history. Ever since the first human civilization came into existence, the Indus Valley, Indian handicrafts had their mark.
The people of the Indian Civilization made ornaments, pottery and sculptures out of stone, metal and clay. These pieces of crafts were found by archeologists who also certified that they belonged to the civilization that existed around 5000 years back.
Later came the Vedic age when weaving and carpentry became popular. Since it was the Vedic period, people mostly carved and wove figures of Gods and Goddesses. The Vedic period brought with it an era of artists and artisans.
The kings who ruled the country spread the word of craftsmanship. The Mauryan rulers brought in sculptors who designed and sculpted the famous Sanchi Stupa which exists even now.
The period after the Mauryan rule had a great influence of the Greek on it. Sculptures and crafts made in that period had a blend of Greek and Indian influences. This was when artisans got involved into textiles and leather craft.
This way, as time passed India took up many forms of craft and now Indian crafts are revered for their intricate designs and hand-made work. Crafts of Rajasthan, the block-printed fabrics and hand-made puppets, are famous for the range of colors and designs used. The handlooms of Kashmir and Kanchivaram are must-haves. The intricately designed jewelry and sculptures always get a word of praise.
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