Kalamkari Embroidery History: Know about the country’s famous art Kalamkari, the pride of which state it is, how it is made and how to identify Kalamkari fabric.
There are such embroideries in Indian handicrafts which have made their mark not only in the country but also abroad. Be it Chikankari of Uttar Pradesh, Sujani of Bihar or Banjara embroidery of Madhya Pradesh, most people know about it, but for some time now the demand for Kalamkari embroidery originating from Andhra Pradesh has increased. The unique combination of intricate design and intricate hand painting is once again appealing to people after centuries, let us know about this embroidery in detail and its specialty.
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What is Kalamkari art?
The word Kalamkari is made up of two words of Persian language, Kalam meaning pen and Kari meaning workmanship. This art is made by hand drawing images on cloth with the help of a special pen made of bamboo and palm wood. Elements related to nature, animals, birds, flowers, leaves and traditional designs are mostly used in these paintings.
History of Kalamkari Art
It is said that the roots of Kalamkari art reach the Indus Valley civilization. Earlier this art was used to make clothes for religious people in temples. With time this art came out of South India and reached the royal courts and then the international market. Today the situation is such that it is counted among the most prestigious and traditional textile arts of India.
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How many styles of Kalamkari embroidery are there?
Kalamkari embroidery is divided into three major styles-
Srikalahasti Kalamkari-It is completely made by hands. In this, pictures are carved directly on the clothes without any block. Religious stories and pictures of gods and goddesses are prominent in this style.
Machilipatnam Kalamkari- In this style, printing is done with the help of hand-made wooden blocks. Flowers, leaves, vines, birds and Persian designs are mostly seen in it.
Karuppar Kalamkari- In this style extremely fine work of gold threads along with hand painting is found.
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In how many stages is a Kalamkari design prepared?
Making Kalamkari cloth is not easy. It takes 15-20 days to prepare it. The special thing is that no chemical color is used in making it. Pomegranate peel, turmeric, indigo, madar roots, iron solution and natural plants are used to prepare colors. Many times the cloth is washed, dried and prepared through natural processes so that its color remains the same even after years.
How to identify Kalamkari fabric?
- It is prepared with natural colors and hence smells like soil.
- Hand drawn lines are not exactly the same
- The color impression is visible even on the back of the cloth
- Buying GI tagged Kamalkari fabric is a safe option
- Kalamkari cloth is very expensive