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| HANDICRAFTS : Tamil Nadu in particular Thanjavur District is famous for many Handicrafts Items which are unique in characteristic at international level. The Handicraft skill is hereditary and confined to a few families in the District like Thanjavur, Swamimalai and Natchiarkoil. The Crafts include production of Handicraft items like Bronze Icons, Tanjore Art Plates, Tanjore paintings Bell Metal Lamps and Musical Instruments • Bronze Icons: |
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The art of making images in bronze reached its most brilliant zenith in
the Chola Period. The Chola bronzes, acclaimed and treasured the over depict the fullness of the human body and emotions. Made of mixture of metals like copper or brass often the alloy called “Pancha Lauha” is used. [Gold, Silver, Copper, Brass and white lead]. This process is still the traditional costing method with improvements for convenience. There is one Society, exclusively for bronze icons at Swamimalai. In the Society, they are having lot of collection of Bronze Icons, antique and polish pieces. The person to be contacted is “the Special Officer, the Swamimalai Icon Manufacturing Industrial Cooperative Society Ltd., Swamimalai.
| • Art Plates: This exquisite art of embossed work is the result of skilful handiwork developed over the generations. Made from copper and silver sheets, reliefs are encrusted on the plate, depicting religious symbols and themes. Tanjore Art Plate work comes in a variety of shapes. There is one Society, exclusively for this craft at Thanjavur itself. The Society is functioning at “Sangeetha Mahal [Upstairs], Palace, Thanjavur. • Thanjavur Paintings: Thanjavur Painting is a peculiar, ancient, miniature type of painting named after the place Thanjavur. [Called Tanjore in English] Thanjavur district is famous for various arts and crafts in which paintings are ranked high among the other arts like Thanjavur Toys, Thanjavur Plates , etc. Its origin dates back to the Nayak and the Maratha Period in the 16 th Century. Most of the paintings were of Hindu deities & saints . • Bell Metal Lamps: The Lamps are an explosion of creative expression in brass. A variety of them in all shapes, sizes and forms are used in worship at home and temple rituals to celebrate every festival in the calendar year. Kothu Villaku, Adukku ////villaku, Lakshmi Deepam and Sanku Chakra Lamps are among the famous lamps. There is one society for it at Natchiarkoil. • Thanjavur Musical Instruments: Music and dance played an important role in the life of Tamil Nadu. Thus, the making of musical instruments became a major craft, here. Most of the centers for this craft are situated around Thanjavur, which is also the hometown of many famous musicians of the country. According to the Tamil classic, the Silappadikaaram, there's an ancient Tamil instrument, the wooden Yaazh in the shape of boats, fishes, and crocodiles, which is similar to the harp or lute. This instrument has been replaced by the more versatile Veena, made of Jack wood. The various parts of this instrument are the kudam (pot), top plank, neck and yaali. These are first assembled and a mixture of honey wax and black powder is applied to the top plank. Then it is further processed for completion. |
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In Thanjavur, there are families that are into the trade of manufacturing Veenas for generations. Other musical instruments are the Thamburas with their wooden bases, the flute or kuzhal-a wind instrument associated with Lord Krishna. There is one society exclusively for this craft at Thanjavur.
• Thanjavur Handicrafts Industrial Cooperative Society Ltd.
This Society has a sales show Room at Sangeetha Mahal [Up Stairs], Palace, Thanjavur. Its elegantly designed showroom offers an exquisite collection of handicraft items such as Thanjavur art plates, Thanjavur paintings, bronze from Swamimalai bell metals lamps from Natchiarkoill , wood and stone carvings. Handicraft items from other state are also sold here.