Mar 20, 2008

Handicrafts from North-East India

Peacock Natural Bamboo Colour with fret cut design



Bamboo Room separator is very useful to divide big rooms



Rhino's happy family



Fruit basket

From time immemorial, North-East India (Mainly Assam - or Ahom and Tripura) has curved out a name for itself in the field of Handicrafts. The gifted artisans could produce wonderful objects of craft from simple material like cane, bamboo and wood. Their rare artistic skill has been streamlined in the manufacture of exquisite household pieces. North-East India's unique topography and the gracious nature bestowed their choicest blessings on the hereditary artisans of North-East India. Here three distinct cultures viz. Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam have converged together to give shape and content to a unique tradition that found eloquent expression through immemorable work of art and crafts made out of very simple material like cane, bamboo, clay, wood palm leaf etc. With passage of time, there have been changes in the demographic character of the state. Cane & Bamboo occupy a distinct place in the life of North-East India. From cradle to grave, there is hardly and occasion, complete without the use of cane and bamboo.

Cane/Bamboo handicrafts of North-East India are acknowledged to be among the best in the country, due to their beauty, elegance and exquisite designs. A vast range of items is produced, including Furniture, Panels, and Partitions, Table mats and other mat products, Lamp shades etc. North-East India handicrafts are also being exported to various countries. Today the magnificent skill of artisans has been directed to produce a wide range of more than 200 exquisite products. Presently, about 10,000 skilled artisans are engaged in production of various handicrafts in the state.

For interior decoration, North-East India handicrafts offer a wide range of false ceilings, paneling, plaques, pot containers (planters) etc. made of gossamer thin bamboo mattress, Ornated with wood inlay and cane and bamboo. The household items have blended utility with artistic beauty. Panels and Partitions provide another wide range of utility items made out of solid but thinly splitted bamboo pasted on plywood. Lamp shades made of fine strips of cane & bamboo add distinct tough and glamour to the living room. Exhibiting a rare combination of tradition and talent, the products would brighten up the interiors demonstrating the taste and feeling of the connoisseurs.

A few of these wonderful handicrafts which form part of my collection are featured below.

2 comments:

Meera said...

Handicrafts look beautiful. Thanks for sharing

Unknown said...

Great work!
Personally, even I am interested into Handicrafts as well. This niche has a lot of potential. Wishing you loads of Luck. Thanks oyeart.