Rarely anything is as nimble and creative like the human hands. With our hands being an extension of our mind and soul, artisans across the world have been creating handicraft items so stunning and creative that they will bedazzle your eyes. From pottery to rugs, from fabrics to show pieces, from jewellery to shiny trinkets – the list is endless. By now you must have already entered the world of textures and colours. The world is a huge art studio. Let’s look at some mesmerizing handicrafts from around the planet.
Greek Pottery – Greece apart from its formidable architectural structures and rich history is also known for its art of pottery. Ancient Greeks believed that the Goddess Athena invented the potter’s wheel. Greek pots come in all shapes and sizes depending on their purpose. They are often decorated with beautiful scenes from daily life to display how life in Athens and other cities of Greece was. Alabastron, Chytra, Krater are some of the names of the shapes these pots come in. The vases are painted with special black and red figure technique, a unique art in its own. Place a decorative Greek vase in your drawing room and see the wonder in the eyes of your guests.
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Paithani Sarees – India – the land of colours, culture and rich heritage. And in this country rests a town called Paithan in the state of Maharashtra. Paithan is famous for the hand woven Paithani sarees befitting for those with discerning and refined taste. The masterful art of weaving Paithani flourished in 200 B.C., during Satvahana era. Since then Paithani sarees became a symbol of precious heirloom passing on from generation to generation. Paithani saree is known the world over as a poem hand woven in real silk and gold. Woven with very dedicate silk threaded sticks, the Paithani is an exquisite fabric, whose grace and luster in unmatched by any other cloth today. Just like the technique, the colour schemes of paithanis are very unique and special. Only the natural raw materials such as various leaves, flowers, tree-skin, soils, lamps soot, etc. are used to make these brilliant and attractive special colors. The embroidery on the borders of these sarees is another fascinating feature that casts a spell on every woman who sees its once. Paithanis are the special attractions of Indian weddings. So lovely ladies, not even God can help you resist the temptation of an authentic Paithani.
Persian Rugs – Think carpets, think Iran. Just like the finest wine, these middle-eastern handmade rugs increase in value over time. With an investment of several days, these rugs are painstakingly made with Persian Senneh Knots. They are made by passing the woolen strand under one warp, then over and around the next. Most of these carpets or rugs are usually made from 5 basic materials – wool, cotton, silk, jute and animal hair. They are also made from silk – known as ‘Abrisham’ in Persian. These rugs being an art form in its own, an interesting and fascinating exercise is to read these rugs and decipher the meaning behind their intricate designs. Persian history comes alive with these beautiful rugs that talk about battles won and lost, prominent leaders, religious relics, superstitions and tragic love tales. Buy one to own a piece of history in your abode.
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Moroccan wood carvings – Morocco brims with amazing diversity, dynamic colours and ethnic spirit which all reflect themselves beautifully in its handicrafts. Wood carving is one art in which the city of Essaouira truly glitters. The trade of wood carving is practiced across Morocco but there is something really splendid about the ‘twuia wood’ found only on the southern coast. For centuries, the magically skilled hands of locals have been turning this wood into works of art. From larger chess boards and plates, to small boxes and children’s toys to much more, sculptors have perfected the technique of creating world famous handmade items from this seemingly ordinary raw material. Visitors pick up at least a small trinket to remind them of the laid back Moroccan sea coast. But I am sure that you would want buy more when you see these irresistible pieces of Moroccan history and culture.
Maori Raranga form New Zealand – I am sure you have seen the New Zealand team rugby team perform the Haka dance. Now let’s see more traditions of the Maori tribes from New Zealand. Their art and craft is a celebration of the past and it keeps renewing itself with fresh inspirations. Get woven into their extraordinary spirit as you wonder at their twining and weaving skills that create the korowai(cloaks), kete(baskets) and whariki(mats). Cloaks are woven by hand with a material called flax with the help of two upright weaving pegs. As the weaving progresses, colourful feathers and decorative threads are woven into the cloak. The cloaks flaunt colours made from natural dyes. The highly coveted ‘kahu kuri’ is made using dog fur that comes from the ‘kuri’ which is a native Polynesian dog. So the next time you visit New Zealand, you know what to look for.
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Adrinka cloth from Ghana – Akwaaba! Welcome to Africa. Ghana invites you to embrace its exotic art and culture. Adrinka in Ghana is renowned for its priceless handicraft of patterns created on cloth. Designs are etched into a small piece of calabash, which is then dipped in a dye made by boiling the bark of the badie tree for two days and stamped onto cotton cloth. Wondering what the designs are all about? Well they are mostly based on African proverbs and it is fun to unravel their meaning. Hold on, it’s not just that. Stamp carvers use over 60 symbols as designs and everyday inspiration from the contemporary world only adds to this rich Ghanian traditional art-form. Today Adrinka cloth comes in several vibrant colours which men normally wear on their left shoulder during festivals. Nowadays Adrinka symbols are painted on walls, ceramics, jewellery and everything and anything you can think of. Kudos to the Midas touch of these artisans that create a special world of hues, designs and endless possibilities!
This world is a lustrous place with wonderful handmade items which are not just decorative pieces but also have a functional value. Who can stop the human mind that stretches its imagination to create special works of art?! Brimming with culture and diversity, they can bring new life into your house. We just saw some of the famous handicrafts from around the world. Pick them up on your journeys for a priceless collection. Let the spirit of the human hands grow forever.
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