Kerala Art & Craft

Famed as God's own country and selected by National Geographic as one of the ten "must see destinations of the world", Kerala, is a state which has contributed open-handedly to man's imagination, when it comes to beauty in terms of its arts and crafts. The sprawling greenery, the shimmering backwaters, the mouth-watering cuisine and the Dravidian culture - all have intrigued people worldwide for ages and hauled his imagination to a high. Diverse interests in art forms and distinct tastes in selection of living has added several peerless features to the cultural domain of Kerala, unique to this southern state of India. Love for elephants and devotion for poetry abound here. The vigour of the grand boat races, the joy of gluey festivals such as Onam, the gorgeous appreciation as in Thrissurpuram.... Kerala continues to enchant its every guest by its redifining beauty for centuries. Take up tours of Kerala to see the famous handicrafts of Kerala.

Handicrafts Items in Kerala

Kerala is widely referred to as the 'land of coconuts' and is known for its articulate craftsmanship, which is an intimate part of her tradition. Visit the part of India, where every identity is a placard of delicate artistry, where every corner speaks of the dexterous fingers that play with the abstract keys of art, producing patterns, designs and structures, that are unique in themselves. Coem to see the famous arts and crafts items in Kerala. Natural sustainable materials, herbal dyes and an exquisite naivety add an ultimate touch of pure beauty to the masterpieces. Marquetry in wood, ivory and buffalo horn carvings, Bamboo Reed Weaving, Palmyra Leaf Weaving, Kora Grass Mat Making, Rattan or Cane work, Embroidery and Lace Making, Lapidary work, Granite carving, Coconut shell carving, Lacquer work, Cotton map making are some of the specialities of Kerala that enchants its every visitor, whether national or international.

The Wood Artistry

One of the most popular handicraft item in Kerala is wood. The deep, dense forests of the Nilgiris and Western Ghats equip the local craftsmen with enough wood to put their imagination into works of demand. Wood crafting is one of the ancient arts of Kerala and is well endorsed by the temples and churches of the State which portray ethereal wood carvings. Tourists can look for simplest of Malayali handicrafts such as pillow covers, mats, cushions, vanity bags, purses, hats etc., made of screwpine. One can also pick up fancy articles like bamboo-reed mats, baskets and splendid mats made from Kora grass, by visiting interiors of Kerala. The coconut shell too, is used to produce articles of utility and beauty as lamp shades, flower vases and ashtrays, that find a ready market in India and abroad. One can even travel to Talangara village near Kasaragod, to visit the famous textile cap making industry. The beautiful cotton caps manufactured here find a ready market in the African and Gulf countries.

Metal Craft

Over the pages of history, metal crafts of Kerala have made its own place among other traditional arts. The native craftsmen have made the most skillful use of the raw materials without overlooking the demands of the aesthetics and thus made their rich contribution to the life of the community and abroad. Bell-metal casting, a favourite among the folks, is an old time industrial art which has evolved gradually into an epitome of perfection. You can buy some of those magnificent artistic lamps - Greek lamp (Changalavatta), the Archana lamp, the Arati Dipa - as memories, for decorating your home. While praising the varied works of art, one can't just forget about Aranmula metal mirrorwork. Said to be a product developed because of an accident in metal casting, this beautiful work of art is made of an alloy of copper and tin and resembles the glass mirror in every point of utility. Visit Trivandrum to collect a few specimens of the 'Koftagari' work such as figures of deities, landscapes, floral designs and handsome articles. take up sultural tours of Kerala to enjoy the most popular arts of Kerala.

Paintings

The art and crafts of Kerala has been highlighted due to the paintings, that are quite evident from the grand display of fascinating murals in temples, palaces and churches. The murals of 'Tirunandikkara' (now in Kanyakumari district) and 'Tiruvanchikulam' are considered as the earliest specimens of Kerala painting. Visit the Padmanabhapuram Palace, 54 kms from Thiruvananthapuram, and you will be mesmerised to see the topmost floor (Upparika malika) embellished with more than forty murals depicting such themes as 'Anantasayanan', 'Lakshminarayana', Lord Krishna with Gopis, Nataraja as Dakshinamurthi etc. The churches of Kerala also contain paintings which depict characters and scenes from the Christian mythology. If on a holiday tour to Kerala, don't forget to visit the Kanjur church, whose outer walls present a huge mural, portraying the vivid scene of a battle fought between the armies of Tipu Sultan on the one side and those of the English East India Company, aided by the bare - footed Indian militia, on the other.
 

Rosewood Carving

Karnataka and Kerala are famous for the technique of carving of figures in rosewood. This requires the utmost skill since the figure of animal form must maintain its identity when viewed from any angle. Icons, elephants, boxes and curios are produced in rosewood with profusion of carving and inlay work. The best rosewood carved pieces are finely and realistically sculpted. Rosewood beds are a specialty of Kerala.

Coconut Shell

A variety of objects are carved out of coconut shells in Kerala. These include bowls, vases, tea pots and ladles.

Bell metal products

Beautifully proportioned cooking vessels with classic curves as well as ritualistic lamps and many decorative functional items are crafted out of bell metal in Kerala, the home of bell metal. Kerala's "urlis" are superb examples of the traditional Kerala craftsperson's' sense of chaste aesthetics and harmony. Apart from urlis, oil cans, tumblers and jugs, today bell metal ware in Kerala embraces jewel boxes, lime jars, "paan" boxes each of which is beautifully finished.

Woodwork

The best in Kerala wood carving is seen in ancient temples and churches. Kerala produces elephants in profusion in a variety of postures and sizes, from microscopic to huge made with rosewood or teak. Beautiful female figures are also carved out of kumbli wood in Kerala.

Wood Inlay

Marquetry though comparatively new to Kerala (not traditional) has developed fairly well. Far apart from the charm that it gives to the article, any piece of wood in spite of its anatomical defects due to malformation can still be purposefully utilized. Only superior type of wood like teak, rose, agi (white cedar) are used here to prevent easy cracks. Articles like trays of various types, teapots, stools, vases, boxes, ash trays and photo frames are made.

Stonecraft

Stone carving has a very ancient history in Kerala. Stone sculpture belonging to the historic period dates back to the early part of this century and includes some extraordinary dancing figures. The Padmanabhaswami temple in Trivandrum is a storehouse of fine sculpture. Kerala is rich in granite which is largely used in image making for which Changanur is an important centre. Apart from icons, this stone is also used for making household articles and structures.