| Want to spice up your living room? A single item of | | | | unmatched conversation pieces. |
| ha-painted furniture from Rajasthan, India, could be | | | | Marble Painting in Rajasthan is the other popular craft. |
| just the thing you're looking for, adding rich color and | | | | From the mines of Makrana in Rajasthan (western |
| interest to your home. | | | | India) came the marble used to build the Taj Mahal. |
| Like other myriad crafts from this Indian desert | | | | Now you can own a piece of history too! Painting on |
| state, hand-painted wooden furniture has a long | | | | marble is an ancient craft in Rajasthan that comes |
| tradition. The cities of Kishangarh and Jodhpur, in | | | | down to us in an unbroken tradition. Today, with |
| particular, are famed for their distinctive styles of | | | | worldwide demand, artisans produce a variety of |
| furniture. | | | | exquisite creations that have both decorative and |
| Acacia arabica, mango and rose are the woods | | | | utilitarian value. |
| favored by artisans. An item of furniture is first made | | | | Whether it's a vase, a traditional Indian water pot, |
| and then finished. Painting is done over the finished | | | | bowls, jewelry boxes, pipes used for smoking, |
| piece, which is finally given a coat of varnish. A host | | | | lanterns or more contemporary products like |
| of products are available: small, low chairs (with | | | | bathroom ware, marble painting renders the products |
| detachable seats) that are surprisingly comfortable, | | | | breathtakingly beautiful. Gorgeous, stylized floral |
| stools, trunks, wine racks, cupboards, doors, paneled | | | | designs, delicately picked out with gold foil are used |
| screens, cabinets and decorative, carved 'windows'. A | | | | to turn out stunning pieces in eye-catching |
| wide range of bright colors are used to decorate | | | | combinations of red, green, black, yellow or deep |
| these products. | | | | blue. |
| Paintings from the Kishangarh School of Art present | | | | Rajasthan's marble paintings are fit for a king's palace. |
| human figures with highly stylized features - | | | | The art was patronized by the ancient rulers of |
| elongated necks, wide, almond-shaped eyes, slender | | | | Amer-Jaipur, now the state capital. The traditional |
| fingers and muted colors. This style - like the pretty, | | | | motifs used show a strong influence of Mughal art. |
| symmetrical floral motifs - bears the stamp of the | | | | This is due to the closeness that existed between |
| Mughal influence on the artforms of Rajasthan. Such | | | | the Rajputs and the Mughals. The difference lies in |
| motifs, which were traditionally painted on silk as | | | | the brighter colors used by the artisans of Rajasthan. |
| miniatures, find their way on to furniture as well. | | | | Miniature paintings on marble tiles are also a great |
| Kishangarh furniture also features embossed and | | | | buy. Most miniature marble paintings represent Hindu |
| painted designs. | | | | gods and Rajput kings and queens clad in their |
| Wooden furniture from Jodhpur has a quaint, antique | | | | traditional finery. Often, the paintings also feature a |
| charm, with typically ethnic color combinations. A | | | | fine, net-like carving of marble around the painting, a |
| cabinet, for instance, might feature red and green | | | | special technique used by artisans in Rajasthan. Fine |
| floral motifs with a border of cobalt blue and ochre. | | | | gold leaves were also used in these paintings |
| Decorative wooden wall pieces often feature richly | | | | enhancing their richness. A more contemporary use |
| carved borders that frame paintings of Hindu gods or | | | | of marble painting can be found in photo frames, with |
| Rajput kings and queens. | | | | techniques like embossed paintings and enameling |
| Rajasthan's painted furniture evokes the rich | | | | being used to turn out exquisite pieces. |
| traditions of its glorious past and makes for | | | | |