.
.
Sometimes all you need is a splash of colors because
the purest and most thoughtful minds are those which love color the most ❤
Andhra Pradesh’s “Tholu Bommalata” based handmade colorful lampshades.
- These colorful lamps are made mainly on goat leather using colorful vegetable dyes.
- The craft of making these lamp shades is related to a very old but fast disappearing traditional folk form of leather puppetry known as Tholu Bommalata
- The form originated way back in 200 BC under the Satvahana dynasty
- The social group engaged in this craft is the Marathi Balija (originally from the Marathwada region)
- Puppet making was a flourishing business, especially when puppetry was one of the main forms of entertainment in villages.
- With the decline of shadow puppet theatre, leather puppet makers are being forced into making items such as colorful lampshades or even toys using their art.
- Lampshades are made with the help of a mould. The leather (two halves) is wrapped around it and stitched together. The artisan makes designs on it, using a pencil. The designs are mainly mythological figures and sometimes his/her own creations. Once done the outlines are painted with black. Vibrant colors are filled in with vegetables dyes. Small holes are chiseled in the patterns using a pogaru (chisel) which enhance the attractiveness of the lamp.
….and, if you like what you see & read, do ‘like it’ & ‘share it’. Non WordPress users please ‘rate’ it to express your appreciation 🙂 Also do not forget to ‘follow the blog’ to remain updated about newer posts ❤
HAPPY TRAVELLING!
Monika Ohson / TravelerInMe
Monika Ohson 