Jaipur is among the richest city in Rajasthan as far as the fields of arts and crafts is concerned. Jaipur has created and preserved rich craft heritage which includes fabulous fabrics in lovely prints, precious and semi-precious stones, Kundan Meenakari Jewellery, embroidered leather work, other hand crafted items of wood, ivory, lac, glass, brass, silver and gold.
For women there were infinite variety - tie and dye fabrics, embroidered garments, enamel jewellery inlayed with precious and semi-precious stones, leather jootis. They put their lives indoors to very good use by decorating their surroundings - on the walls of their mud-huts were painted geometric designs as well as simple motifs like flowers and birds. Also the womenfolk made intricate patterns on floors, shaped straw and twine to turn into the most beautiful as well as functional items plus displayed great talent with the needle and thread and paper mache.
When the Rajputs came to dominate this region, it was a period of constant strife. They were almost always in battle with their neighboring kingdoms. When a kingdom fell and a new ruler took over, it was time for change paintings depicting the new ruler's victory; scenes from the battle and processions of the victorious march were faithfully reproduced on the walls and handmade paper. Other than the paintings, the new rulers also influenced the existing crafts of that area. Despite their love for the battlefield, the Rajputs have been patrons of art and also their 350 years of contact with the Mughals led to a very strong influence on their lives and arts. Quite a few folk arts received the refinement and delicacy of the Mughal courts. They borrowed freely from the Agra and Delhi courts and in some cases, also sent theirakilled craftsman to adorn the Mughal courts. |
