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Thanjavur Art plates: A contemporary perspective on heritage revival

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  Thanjavur Art plate (‘Kalai thattu’) is an artistic fusion of metals - brass, copper and silver layers in stages. It is a ceremonial handicraft consisting of two main parts, Maiyam - primary silver relief at the centre and the Talavaram - alternating brass and silver wedges along the circumference of the plate. It was given a Geographical Indications (GI) tag in 2007 and was listed as the 63rd item. History ‘Thanjavur Kalai’ is an art of embossing, etching and engraving on metallic surfaces. It requires the skills of a metal worker, jeweller and a designer of not just patterns, but also tools to create ornate motifs of various designs like floral patterns, religious reliefs, etc. It was introduced by the King Saraboji -II in the 1800s as art plates and later applied in royal gifts, decorated jewel boxes, ornnamented salvers and vessels like water pots, vase etc. The journey As we walked into the pattarai (workshop) at Ellai amman kovil theru, Thanjavur, we saw Mr.Shankaran-a ma
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Pattamadai Mats: An underappreciated art of finesse at the verge of extinction

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  Pattamadai Mats are exquisite hand woven mats made up of Korai grass that grows along the banks of the river Thamirabarani, Tamilnadu. As mentioned in various Tamil folk songs, gifting Pattamadai mats to the newly wedded couples was a celebrated tradition. The mats can be customised with the names or even portraits of the bride and groom. The mat comes in various patterns, degree of fineness and rich colour schemes.  Background The silk mats are the most colourful and the finest creation of Pattamadai and were even exported to other countries in the past. Based on the number of strands accommodated in one inch, the mats are classified into 32 counts, 50 counts, 100 counts(silk mats) . 120 and 140 counts are no longer made. The korai grass is also cultivated in other places as Karur, Manimutharu, Karambai, Ulupadipaarai, Karisoolthamangalam and Kallidaikurichi. It grows along the river bank and has high strength and is even believed to have medicinal values.   The journey We visited
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Swamimalai Bronze icons: the metal pride of Tamilnadu

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  Swamimalai, a suburb near Kumbakonam is a home for more than 2000 Sthapathis, sculptors and metal artisans. A journey of rejuvenation of traditional handicrafts and culture set forth by our researchers led us to the GI tagged Swamimalai bronze icons (no: 514). This metal craft is mainly famous for the creation of Hindu temple deity statues called ‘Utsavar silai’ . Apart from the temple statues, the sthapathis create intricate icons ranging from 6 inches to 12 feet in height. These icons are exported around the world and can be seen at entrance in many star hotels and other affluent areas as a welcome symbol. Background The history of bronze icons is traced back to the Chola dynasty. King Raja Raja Cholan summoned many sculptors during the construction of Brihadeshwara temple. These sculptors later settled in Swamimalai region and started to create these superlative bronze beauties. Contrary to the name, these statues are made up of an alloy called Panchloha of five different metal
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The Handloom Story: The Revival of Ayyampettai Kutni Fabric

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  In a world where the global fashion trends are constantly evolving, upholding our intangible culture is on the foremost line. Weavers of India play a vital role in exhibiting our culture across the globe. Ayyampettai Kutni fabric is a medley of silk and cotton in a noble note. It is exclusively known for its unique heritage textile engineering technique, shiny glossy silk in the front and cotton in the rear, woven in satin weave, which makes it comfortable designer clothing. History The major contribution of Kutni weaving style comes from the weavers of the Sourashtra community , who had migrated to Tamilnadu from Gujarat. With their exquisite knowledge and extraordinary skills in silk weaving they created silk clothings and other materials for the royals and eventually settled here. They were locally known as ‘pattu nool karanga’ (silk people) and passed on the tradition for generations.   The journey The story revolves around Mr. Selvaraj, a master weaver awardee who works his
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