Skip to main content

An Evolving tradition of Rajasthan - Sanganeri Block print

 A village in the southern part of Jaipur, Rajasthan named Sanganer where the sanganeri block print blossomed. The print is well known for the textile and also for the paper block print. 
Hand block print is done in various places and each one adds to the cultural, historical, and geographical influences of the regional variety having a particular style of its own.

History
It is indicated that the art prevailed since the 12th century but during the 16th and 17th centuries, the craft found its heaven in the sanganer, where it flourished, as the place is ideal with the soft water of Saraswati river, clay, and also desirable for the sun bleach of the fabric.
Sanganer is one of the major centers that are highly known for the block prints with bright colors and delicate lines printed against the white background. 
During the period of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, the patronage of the Jaipur royal family invited Craftsman from Gujarat and Andhra for developing new designs. while a constant war between Mughals and Marathas caused the artist to settle in Rajasthan.

Technique
The fabric to be printed is treated with a special method to remove the starch and dust contained in it. Then the fabric is washed thoroughly and dried completely. After the material is dried it is spread and pinned to the printing table.
With a natural dye color that is pored in the wooden tray. For outline, the blocks are tapped and for coloring the block is pressed hard with the fist. After the color is imprinted. It is steamed and spread on the drying hanger. Finally, it is rolled and forwarded for cutting and stitching.

Motifs
The elegant work needs a perfect mirror image block print. The style is mainly mutual style designs. Sanganer is famous for block prints on white or pastel backgrounds. Time has changed, now we can have both background dark as well pale.
The  Mughal designs influence are most, bel of various sizes, and fields are covered with dots or geometric shapes to large buta.Usually, motifs like Keri(mango), pan(leaves), and kator is created. The animal print is not used on the costume textileThe sanganeri print is visible floral designs, geometrical, and God figures are included, abounded pattern.

Innovation 
There is a great deal of representation in designs as well apart from colors with the print finding its way on dresses, skirts, and scarves, Indian fashion gets prominent not just with silk and cotton, but a variety of materials. Light and funfilled designs are on trend. Sondful international stores have used this pattern to showcase Indian print.

Present
With technology gaining importance dyers have started experimenting with unusual color combinations. This was, however, not possible with the older techniques.
The news is that, under GI Act 1999,sanganeri block print textiles have given a unique identity in manufacturing and belong to the sanganer area and the craft almost died till it was revived. Thereby giving a new life to the craft with the help of government, designers, and craftsmen.

Maintenance 
It is by far the easiest print to maintain. Though the color may fade if washed too often.  Mild hand or machine wash would be favorable for the fabric.





Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Arunachal Tribal Textile - Apatani Textile

Apatani Textile is a traditional handwoven fabric produced by the Apatani tribe, who Lives in the Ziro Valley of Arunachal Pradesh. These textiles are celebrated for their intricate geometric patterns and vibrant use of natural dyes. Apatani textiles are primarily used for garments such as shawls and headgear, symbolizing the tribe's rich cultural heritage. The art of weaving is deeply rooted in their traditions and passed down through generations, preserving their craftsmanship and unique techniques. The woven fabric of this tribe is known for its geometric and zigzag patterns and also for its angular designs.The Apatani community weaves its own textiles for various occasions, including rituals and cultural festivals. The tribe predominantly weaves shawls known as jig-Jiro and jilan or jackets called supuntarii. The traditional handloom of this tribe is a type of loin loom, which is called Chichin and is similar to the traditional handloom of the Nyishi tribe. It is portable, easy...
Post a Comment
Read more

Traditional Folk Art - Kantha Embroidery

One of the oldest and most famous forms of Indian embroidery from West Bengal and Orissa. Rural women practice this embroidery and pass it on to generations and it is also a common dowry tradition. These women not only embroidered the Kantha work on appeals but in décor also. The best thing about Kantha is that it didn’t need any additional ornamentation to make it look amazing and the reason it can be used in different forms and for various purposes. History Searching history first story believed that the earliest written record is earlier than 500 years ago. The poet krishnadas kaviraj wrote in his book Sri Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita how Chaitanya’s mother sent a homemade Kantha to her son in Puri. Kantha had quiet beginnings in the rural setting of Bengal and almost vanished in the early 19th century. Another story is believed that Lord Buddha and his discipline use old rugs with different kinds of patchwork to cover themselves and th...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Traditional Craft of Punjab - Phulkari Embroidery

In the 15th century, phulkari embroidery was first begun by the women folk of Punjab. A tradition of Punjab with bright and vibrant colors the phulkari is consist of two words phul means Flowers and kari mean Work. word phulkari means floral work but it is not only restricted to floral designs it also includes various motifs and geometrical patterns and shapes. The embroidery has its charm and is popular not only in India but worldwide.   Origin There are various theories about the origin of phulkari. One among them is embroidery was prevailed in most of India, But survived in Punjab. You can see a glimpse of it in Kashida of Bihar, And some parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat.  Another view is that the embroidery came from Iran, in there it is known as Gulkari. However, pal (1960) notes that both the style phulkari and Gulkari are distant. Ancient texts, folk legends, and literature of Punjab have references of phulkari. In Harshcha...
Post a Comment
Read more