Arts and crafts of India

From the most basic artifacts and traditions of village life - earthenware water jars, brightly colored wooden toys and painted murals of Hindu deities on mud walls - to sophisticated and intricate geometric designs painstakingly etched on precious metal or carved in stone, here is a spectacular array of arts and crafts, representing the wealth of the country's craft heritage. Specially taken photographs complement a lively and thorough discussion of each medium: the plastic arts; wood and stone carving; metalwork; jewelry; textiles; paint and paper; and a colorful miscellany, including leatherwork, basketry and floral work. As well as comprehensive descriptions of materials and techniques such as inlay, enameling, sand-casting, tie-dye and papermaking, Arts and Crafts of India outlines the regional styles, history, and social and symbolic significance of many of the artifacts, informed by the authors' first-hand research - often in remote areas of the subcontinent. This book, complete with a collector's guide and glossary, will appeal to all those visiting India, as well as to designers, buyers, and anyone who appreciates the beauty and decorative value of ethnic arts and crafts.