|
When an artist or craftsman creates an object
in accordance with the principles of good taste besides the utility,
it falls in the category of decorative or minor arts. In India,
the tradition continues to be in vogue from the proto-historic period
( 3rd millennium B.C.) to the present day. The vareity, quality
and media did increase with the taste and status of different generations
and the process is on even today. Wood Carvings : Wood carving is
the process in which raw wood is carved and fashioned not only for
everyday use but also for the beautification of sculptural, domestic
and architectural objects. The tradition is very old but due to
perishable nature of wood, the ancient works we have are extremely
rare. Beautifully carved pillars and doors from a sun temple at
Katarmal in District Almora of Uttar Pradesh shown in the late Medieval
Gallery are the most important and early pieces of our collection.
While the Pillar is of 9th century, the door is attributed to the
13th century. Another important exhibit is the Mandapa of a temple
(16th-17th century) displayed in the wood carving gallery on the
second floor. Some beautiful objects of later periods representing
different parts of India can be viewed in the decorative arts gallery
(ground floor). Ivory Carvings : Although ivory carving is presently
confined to the tusks of elephants, it is also applied to the tooth
structure of walrus, hippopotamus and whale fish. The tmeple shrine
is yet another excellent example of Delhi's craftsmanship in ivory.
It's large size and intricate carving indicates that it must have
been carved on order for some royal house. Similarly, the large
Jali (screen) reflects the rich and minute workmanship. Jade Carvings
: Jade, as a semi-precious stone from Chinese Central Asia, mainly
Khotan region, became popular in India only from Akbar's time (16th
century), although green Jadite beads were found at Mohen-jo-daro
and Hiuen-Tsang's travel accounts also mention the use of jade in
India. An English Sea Captain, Howkins, who visited Jahangir's court
in 1613 found five hundred cups made of rubies, emeralds, jade and
other semi-precious and precious stones. Fashioning jade to exquisite
art-forms is a highly skilled but difficult and slow process. It
is not carved but abraded with the help of several abrasives, harder
than jade. Finished jade objects were often damascened with gold
or silver or else enamelled or studded with jewels, not only for
their external beauty but also to grant them the royal status. Other
Items : Of the two complete Huqqas (17th-18th century) on display,
one is important for the inscription of Shah Jahan's period. Studded
plates, betel and spice-boxes, cups, bowls, plaques, tumblers etc.
are some of the other notable examples of decorative arts of the
17th and 18th centuries. A beautiful celestial sphere bearing 2nd
regnal year of Shah Jahan ( 1629 A.D.) and the name of craftsman
Qaim Mohammad bin Jhahbad Humayun Lahori is also noteworthy. A big
Degcha (cooking vessel) with a dome shaped lid bears an inscription
with the name of Shah Jahan at the bottom of the inner surface.
The outer surface has been carved with very thick entwined creepers
alongwith Persian couplets and animal figures in between. Bidri
Ware : Bidri was a kind of metalware deriving its origion from Bidar
(Hyderabad). Later, it was produced in Murshidabad (Bengal), Purnia
(Bihar) and Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) also. Bidri is an allowy of
zinc, copper, lead and tin to which, after making the required shape,
inlaying with silver, brass and sometimes gold was added for floral
and faunal decoration. Huqqa, Sailabchi, Aftaba, box, candle-stand,
tray, cot-leg, Ugaldan are the most popular items produced in this
craftsmanship bearing great excellence and charm. A unique globular
Huqqa-base of 18th century from Hyuderabad depicting the story of
Padmavata, an epic by Malik Mohammad Jayasi in Hindi in the 16th
century comes among the masterpieces.
|
|
