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Basketry
Basketry is primarily a folk craft in India. Whether in the hilly tracts of Tripura or in the uncut jungles of Assam, West Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, or in the dense uplands of Kerala, the inhabitants have preserved their tradition of basketry. Bamboo, cane, grasses and reeds as well as the leaves of coconut and date palm are used by people all over the country from time immemorial to produce items that suit their everyday purpose and satisfy their creative urges. Mats and baskets, boxes and trays, toys and dolls, costume jewelry and wall hangings of contemporary times are really products of an unbroken tradition dating back to the basketry of Neolithic cultures (5000 B.C.). Men and women from different parts of the country weave fibers made out of grasses into all kinds of shapes and forms for different purposes. They are used for winnowing, carrying, storing, fishing, trapping, cooking, rocking babies, protecting farmers from the sun, etc. For their sheer comfort, pleasing colors and decorative quality alone, Indian mats are considered masterpieces. In Assam and in the mountainous region of the Himalayas, in West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Uttara Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, mats are produced in different shapes and designs. In Orissa, baskets are woven with geometrical designs. The rattan work of Malabar, the sikki work of Bihar, the willow work of Kashmir, the cane work of Assam and the bamboo work of West Bengal, Bihar and Orissa offer an endless choice of superb craftsmanship.
Handicrafts
of India
Metal Crafts | Stone Crafts | Pottery |
Toys | Ivory & Bone Crafts | Carpets
| Basketry | Folk Paintings |
Fabric Art | Costume Jewelry |
Others
| PICTURES
