Kalamkari and Traditional Design Heritage of India

FREE Delivery
$54.40
$68
(20% off)
Quantity
Delivery Ships in 1-3 days
Item Code: IDI713
Publisher: Wisdom Tree Publications
Author: Shakuntala Ramani
Edition: 2007
ISBN: 818328082X
Pages: 117 (86: Color Plates)
Cover: Hardcover
Other Details 11.1" X 8.5
Fully insured
Fully insured
Shipped to 153 countries
Shipped to 153 countries
More than 1M+ customers worldwide
More than 1M+ customers worldwide
100% Made in India
100% Made in India
23 years in business
23 years in business
Book Description
From The Jacket

The art of Kalamkari painting is one of the oldest among the traditional arts of India. Drawing upon a repertoire of well-loved epics, Kalamkari is full with richness of colour, simplicity of narrative and precision of detail in its presentation that remains unparalleled by other art forms of this genre. In this book, the salient features of this fine art of Kalamkari are interestingly explained. It also details how this ancient textile craft which was deeply rooted in religion has adapted itself to the social changes and political upheavals while evolving into a secular craft in order to conform to changing cultures and trends through the ages. Written in lucid style, the book explores the origin of the beautiful craft and other traditional design forms and documents their evolution as well as carves a road-map for the future.

About The Author Shakuntala Ramani is the chairperson of the Craft Education and Research Centre of the Kalakshetra Foundation, one of the premier art institution of India. A close associate of the late Rukmini Devi Arundale, founder president of the Kalakshetra, the author has served the organization in various roles such as member of the academic Council, editor of the Kalakshetra Art Quarterly and the Kalakshetra News and head of the weaving centre and vegetable dye block printing unit.

Preface

A research unit for reviving the use of vegetable dyes in present-day fabrics was established at the Craft Centre of Kalakshetra in the year 1979. The project was initiated by Kamaladevi Chatopadhyay, the doyen of Indian handicrafts and Rukmini Devi Arundale, founder president of Kalakshetra. The research programme was started with the establishment of a Kalamkari unit in our premises.

Kalamkari is an ancient Indian textile tradition in which designs are fully hand-drawn or block printed using vegetable dyes. Fabric samples have been found during excavations at Mohenjodaro dating back to 2600 BC to 1700 BC. Similar fabrics were also found in a tomb at al Fustat near Cairo proving that it was a prized commodity of trade in the ancient world.

This beautiful art however, had all but vanished in the country of its origin. The term Kalamkari was used in the Indian marketplace to describe a particular type of block print often produced with chemical dyes. Traditional Kalamkari centres had disappeared and craftsmen who knew the ancient techniques were a mere handful who jealously guarded their knowledge to preserve their monopoly.

As head of operations, I had to travel widely to understand and unearth the secrets of this craft, which was nearing extinction. A study of ancient Kalamkari textiles in museums and private art collections revealed the inner strength of this art form. It was fascinating to see very old textile pieces dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries, tattered and brittle with age but still retaining their original colours produced with vegetable dyes. It was obvious that age-old practices and traditional techniques, even though unscientific, had stood the test of time. Kalamkari designs pertaining to different periods in history presented a pictorial record of the changing face of society through the ages.

As the study progressed, spiraling back into the mists of time, the magnificence of this art form stood revealed in all its glory touching many areas of human endeavour, just like the cosmic figure (Viswaroopam) of Sri Krishna revealing the whole of creation within his body (allusion explained on. p. 6). In writing this book, I have attempted to explain the early origins of this art form and subsequent transformations though the ages, which makes it so rich in content and imagery transforming it from a mere textile design to an art form, which reveals the very soul of Indian culture.

CONTENTS
Preface4
Introduction9
Temple Origin12
The folk Idiom22
Historical Perspective36
Painted and Printed Textiles50
Design Vocabulary80
Kalamkari Artist88
Colours from Nature98
Future of an Ancient Art106
Glossary115
Frequently Asked Questions
  • Q. What locations do you deliver to ?
    A. Exotic India delivers orders to all countries having diplomatic relations with India.
  • Q. Do you offer free shipping ?
    A. Exotic India offers free shipping on all orders of value of $30 USD or more.
  • Q. Can I return the book?
    A. All returns must be postmarked within seven (7) days of the delivery date. All returned items must be in new and unused condition, with all original tags and labels attached. To know more please view our return policy
  • Q. Do you offer express shipping ?
    A. Yes, we do have a chargeable express shipping facility available. You can select express shipping while checking out on the website.
  • Q. I accidentally entered wrong delivery address, can I change the address ?
    A. Delivery addresses can only be changed only incase the order has not been shipped yet. Incase of an address change, you can reach us at help@exoticindia.com
  • Q. How do I track my order ?
    A. You can track your orders simply entering your order number through here or through your past orders if you are signed in on the website.
  • Q. How can I cancel an order ?
    A. An order can only be cancelled if it has not been shipped. To cancel an order, kindly reach out to us through help@exoticindia.com.
Add a review
Have A Question

For privacy concerns, please view our Privacy Policy