The Journey of Discovery – A Kashmiri Shawl
The journey of discovery is indeed fun! Getting to know an artwork is a process of gazing. There are only two requirements though to make it fun: lots of time … Continue reading
Something Unusual .. A Blue Base Suzani
Am new to the category of Suzanis. No books. No hours spent looking at images. No museum visits. So forgive me if I have made a mistake with this one. … Continue reading
The Nayanar Saints – Exploration through Art
Who expected to be learning history through art? And what will we do with learning all this history? I didn’t ever think it was important to know what other did … Continue reading
Originals, Reproductions, Fakes, Investments …
….and other ramblings. *** In some categories of art it is easy to spot a reproduction. For example the Mona Lisa is a very well known painting and if we … Continue reading
Meet the Weavers / Northern Thailand
Meet the Weavers from Northern Thailand Hilltribes. See more here : https://wovensouls.com/products/portraits-long-neck-karen-tribe-northern-thailand ** jm wovensouls.com
A Lesson in Humility
This Pua Kumbu Sungkit (Link) that has just recently arrived to grace my life, reminded me of a personal anecdote that taught me a lesson. Years ago, I saw my … Continue reading
Short Non-Academic Online Talks on Art & Culture
With the availability of new technology, I have hosted a few online talks on ZOOM. The talks are all non-academic and explore the stories that surround the art. They are … Continue reading
Tech+Art at Christie’s
Technology at the service of art can have amazing results as can be seen from the way the Christie’s Asian Art Auction has been presented online: Take a look: Christie’s … Continue reading
A Glimpse of Banarasi Sari Weaving – 1
A little abouta visit to the handloom weaving centre in Banaras through which I learnt a few things. Since I have not learnt about textile design I had no idea … Continue reading
The Showstopper
THE SHOWSTOPPER at the Phulkari AUCTION Sep 6 on Liveauctioneers. A Rare BAGH Sainchi Phulkari … with the base cloth completely covered up in silk stitches! As in all Sainchis … Continue reading
Life Changes …. A Bishnoi Example
LIFE CHANGES … There was a time when you could recognise a community by their dress and their jewelry. Because every group made their own clothes. Yarn from goat hair … Continue reading
August Arrivals – Majestic Antique Pashminas
Come have a look at some gorgeous soft-as-kittens Pashminas that have just arrived. Some unique prayer mats, some moon shawls, and Amlikar and a Dorukha! All but the last are … Continue reading
There’s Gold Plated Hotels and then there’s Antique Gold….
WoW! Promotional messages in my mailbox rarely get opened. But when a Gold Plated Hotel came up I was curious. I could imagine only a few places on earth where … Continue reading
Have you ever seen….
A Wave Splitter? It sits on the front of the canoe, and as the name suggests, splits the wave as it hits the boat. And the owner loved his … Continue reading
A Narrative Palindon Painting from Kamasan, Bali
The curiosity evoked from seeing something new from a different geography and a different history is delicious fodder for the mind. So when I came across a ‘calendar’ with inscriptions … Continue reading
A Wedding ‘Muklawa’ Scene in a Textile
The term ‘Big Fat Indian Wedding’ has been coined in the recent times. But it has existed for decades. Even in families with limited means, a wedding supercedes all other … Continue reading
What Do You Believe In
A note about Imaan or Faith or Allegiance. There ought to be at least one thing – an idea, a love, a craft, a nation, a god – just about … Continue reading
When the ‘Negative’ is Desirable
When the NEGATIVE is desirable… An Amli masterpiece on pashm wool. Negative spaces or spaces in which there is no silk embroidery were used to create a variety of … Continue reading
Why paint on Yak Bone? A Himalayan Buddhist Thangka
Devotional Art comes in many forms in the Buddhist Himalayas. Thangkas are the most commonly known artworks and can be found on paper, cloth and walls in large display-worthy sizes. … Continue reading
Elephant or Stork? Laotian Silk Weaving – 2
So remember this? I received a note from a knowledgeable reader and am sharing his note here: Joshua Hirschstein writes “The primary motif is that of the “phii nyak,” or … Continue reading
Dragons in My Dungeon – Antique Soumac Rugs
Exploring some dragon soumac rugs in my dungeon…
