Additional Information About Our Selections from India
Blue Pottery | Brass Artistry | Earthenware | Embroidery | Jodhpur Vases | Pashmina Shawls
Blue Pottery: Kripal Singh, is a renowned and award winning artist in India for Blue Pottery. He gave blue pottery a fresh lease of life and has associated with the school of arts in Jaipur. His interest in pottery started at a very young age. He creates his pottery by molding. He then hand paints each piece in conventional floral or arabesque patterns by using metallic oxides, which turn into bright blue colors by firing. Kripal draws inspiration for his designs from the art that flourished in India during the Mughal rule in 15th and 16th century. After painting, the piece is dipped into a glaze and fired. Firing melts the glass, but the quartz remains. The process is very tedious and time consuming. Once made, the blue pottery items cannot be reworked. The smallest mistake could lead to the piece either cracking up or turning black. Each piece therefore has a unique characteristic. The artist’s signature is found at the bottom of the pottery. We bring to you Kripal Singh’s work with pride. Please take a moment to view our Blue Pottery collection from India.
Blue Pottery is not water tight and is fragile. It does not have the strength of stoneware. Whenever possible use both hands to pick it up. Vases can be used for fresh flowers with plastic inserts. Blue Pottery can be cleaned with a damp cloth. Do not use commercial cleaners.
Brass Artistry: Traditionally brass work for various vases in India - one of the most highly acclaimed and award winning artisans is Mr. Abdul Razzak Qureshi. Born in 1928 in India in the state of Rajasthan, Mr. Abdul Razzak Qureshi is a traditional craftsman in brass engraving. He has been practicing his craft ever since he was a boy of twelve. Trained by Mr. Mohammad Noor, he has attained perfection in Marori work which is now practiced only by a few craftsmen in India. Instead of enameling the ground from which metal is removed, he covers the entire ground with Marori work. He possesses mastery in the technique of very fine engraving in brass, and executes intricate designs with force and vigor. Mr.Qureshi worked as a teacher at the Sawai Ramsingh Shilpa Kala Mandir in Jaipur for two years. He has imparted training to a number of students in brass engraving craft. He has won many national and state level awards for his craftsmanship. Mr. Qureshi, at the age of 76 still continues to practice his art to support his family and keep the tradition alive.
Earthenware: The most ancient craft known to India for centuries, pottery has become an inseparable part of the cultural fabric of India. Besides its immense utilitarian value in an Indian household, pottery enjoys a divine origin and hence a much deeper significance. A variety of colorful earthenware forms an indispensable part of the religious ceremonies and festive occasions. Earthen pots have been in usage since the early Vedic times for various purposes like drinking pots, food storage, decorative purposes etc.
Embroidery: In the Indian villages of Rajasthan, women often gather and embroider in the cool summer breeze in a neighbor’s verandah. Crafted in a traditional Rajasthani style, this airy embroidery resembles a chain stitch. First the design is traced on the fabric, and a needle with a hooked end is used to push strands of cotton or silk through the fabric, with the thread behind. Each time the needle is pulled up, it brings up a loop of thread, and the loops are linked consecutively. Many of our purses use this technique.
Embroidery of India includes dozens of regional embroidery styles varying by region. The most ornate and tedious form of Indian embroidery is the Zardosi workmanship. This form uses metal thread instead of the usual silk or rayon. The fabric, usually silk or velvet is marked with the pattern and then the craftsman covers the pattern with metal thread embellishing it with stones or beads. Many rich women from the late 1500's had many dresses that had embroidery in them. Another form of embroidery from India is the Ari work. This work is done by stretching the fabric on a frame and creating the stitches from a long a needle. The needle also carries sequins, beads, and other embellishments to decorate the pattern. This technique is used in many purse and handbag designs.
Jodhpur Vases: The most ancient craft known to India for centuries, pottery has become an inseparable part of the cultural fabric of India. Besides its immense utilitarian value in an Indian household, pottery enjoys a divine origin and hence a much deeper significance. A variety of colorful earthenware forms an indispensable part of the religious ceremonies and festive occasions. Earthen pots have been in usage since the early Vedic times for various purposes like drinking pots, food storage, decorative purposes etc.
Pashmina Shawls: Pashmina derived from the Persian word for wool pashm. It refers to the soft underbelly fur of the Tibetan mountain goat which lives in the cold high (15000 ft or higher) Himalayans regions in South Asia. The size of Pashmina hair is 1/6th the size of a human hair. We highly recommend Dry Cleaning the Pashmina. Ironing can be done as done with other woolen clothing. Storing in a plastic bag that came with the Pashmina will keep it good.
