Fine Arts II: Handicrafts of Rajasthan

1. Prime Metal & Glass Arts

• Thewa Art (Pratapgarh): Extremely delicate gold work on colored glass (mostly green). Practitioner family: Raj-Soni. Only male members are taught. • Meenakari (Jaipur): The art of engraving gold/silver with colored enamels. Brought to Jaipur by Sawai Man Singh I from Lahore. Artist: Kudrat Singh. • Koofthgiri: Art of inlaying thin gold/silver wire into steel or iron. Famous in Alwar and Jaipur.

2. Pottery & Clay Work

• Blue Pottery (Jaipur): Unique because it doesn't use clay; instead, it use ground quartz. Revived by Kripal Singh Shekhawat. Brought from Persia. • Molela Terracotta (Rajsamand): Famous for hollow relief clay plaques of folk deities. Artist: Mohanlal Kumhar. • Black Pottery: Famous in Kota. • Kagzi (Paper) Pottery: Famous in Alwar.

3. Leather & Textile Arts

• Usta Art (Bikaner): Gold embossing/painting on camel hide. Also known as Munawwat work. Famous artist: Hisamuddin Usta. • Mojari (Juttis): Traditional leather footwear from Jodhpur and Jalore. • Bandhej (Tie & Dye): Jaipur and Jodhpur are the major centers. One-color dye is Lahariya, multiple is Chundri. • Azrak Print (Barmer): Geometric patterns in Blue and Red colors. • Sanganeri & Bagru Prints: World-famous block prints from Jaipur using natural colors.