About Me

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I am collecting Indian Heritage and culture related vintage postcards, paintings, prints etc. and exhibited them at several locations across India in various events and also sharing them with school and college children by giving presentations to them on Indian Heritage and Culture with my collections and also documenting puppetry etc. intangible performances.

Monday 25 December 2017

Pathak Colour & Chemical Co., Amritsar "Eagle Machine Brand" vintage label in my collection

This is Pathak Colour & Chemical Co., Amritsar "Eagle Machine Brand" Dyeing & Chemicals vintage label in my collection. This vintage label printed in Switzerland.

P.Ramratan Radhakishan Amritsar "Weighing Scale Brand" vintage label

This is P.Ramratan Radhakishan, Amritsar "Weighing Scale Brand" Dyeing & Chemicals vintage label in my collection.



"Sowbhagya Bindi" vintage bindi label in my collection

This is "Sowbhagya Bindi" vintage bindi label in my collection.

Vintage Rose Brand Hair Oil Label in my collection

This is Daimond Chemical Works "Gulab Kesh Thail" vintage rose brand hair oil label in my collection.

Sunday 29 October 2017

Postcards albums with vintage postcards etc. in my collection



These are my postcards albums. I have a total of 9 postcards albums and in these three different vintage postcards albums, one Raja Ravi Varma paintings replicas vintage art postcards and other artists art postcards album, one Maharajas of India postcards album, two albums of postcards of several heritage monuments printed by Archeaological Survey of India and in other albums have photographs of Indian Museum, Kolkata postcards etc.





These are some Pinguli Chitrakathi paintings in my collection


These are some Pinguli Chitrakathi paintings in my collection.

"The Hans India" Newspaper article about my heritage collection

Recently on 26th October (2 days ago) "The Hans India" newspaper published an article about my heritage collection in its Amaravathi edition. Enclosed herewith the newspaper article.

 

Monday 7 August 2017

Bamboo Mask from Assam in my collection

This is "Bamboo Mask" from Assam in my collection. Cane and Bamboo work artisans from Assam created this Bamboo Mask. Bamboo craft is playing a key role in the economy of Assam and other North Eastern States of India.






Krishnanagar Clay Lantern in my collection

This is "Krishnanagar Clay Lantern" in my collection. Krishnanagar Clay Work Artisans from West Bengal created this intricate clay lantern.

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Ghurni (Bengali: ঘূর্ণি) is a neighbourhood of Krishnanagar in Nadia district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is the centre for the production of clay dolls, often referred to as Krishnanagar clay dolls.

History

The old name of Krishnanagar was Rewe. In the early 17th century Bhabananda Majumdar founded the royal family of Nadia. Later, Maharaja Rudra changed the name to Krishnagar. In 1757, Maharaja Krishnachandra (1710–1783) helped the British East India Company against Siraj ud-Daulah in the Battle of Plassey. He was a patron of the arts, including literature and music, and supported the production of clay dolls. In 1728 he brought families of potters from Dhaka and Natore and settled them in Ghurni, then a village.

Clay dolls

In an article, the Bangalore-based newspaper Deccan Herald writes, “We have clay dolls, toys and even clay sculptures in different parts of India. But there has been nothing to match the clay doll artisans of Krishnanagar in the Nadia district of West Bengal. The creations of these artists are displayed in most of the handicraft museums of the world. In India, we have a large display of these dolls in the Shankar’s Doll Museum in New Delhi. One look at the clay dolls and we are amazed at the reality with which the artist has displayed the character of the model. A horse rearing to gallop to a placid dog licking its lips after a hearty feed.”

Krishnanagar clay dolls are unique in their realism and the quality of their finish, ‘...they truly represent a breakaway from the traditional form. Fruits, fish, insects, animals, birds, and of course the entire pantheon of gods and goddesses, and even the ubiquitous Donald Duck and other popular comic strip characters, faithful copies of real-life, down to the minutest detail. Realistic recreations of everyday life, work, mood and character- farmers, weavers, rag pickers, basket makers, umbrella makers - are yet other specialties of Krishnanagar dolls.’

Exhibitions of Krishnagar dolls have been held in London, Paris and Boston. Ghurni clay models have won medals and certificates at international exhibitions.

Changing times

The clay modellers of Ghurni have fallen on bad days. The decline of feudal zemindari culture and loss of their patronage have adversely affected them. They are finding new patrons amongst NRIs, many of whom are acquiring clay models in large numbers.

The number of master craftsmen is decreasing as members of the younger generation are switching over to more lucrative trades or more paying professions. In 2007, the number of master craftsmen staying at Ghurni dwindled to 10, most of them aged.
The above information on Krishnanagar Clay work artisans is taken From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghurni