Woodcraft has traditionally been a part of our economic, social and cultural milieu. The rich flora provides livelihood to many artisans like the ankudu in Etikopakka, Poniki in Kondapalli, neem or nerdi in Udayagiri or teak, mango and sanders in Srikalahasti. Woodcraft is as is old as the temples of the region where idols, chariots and arches are still there to be seen and cherished
Temple architecture in Andhra Pradesh is testimony to our age old tradition of stonecraft. From monolithic sculptures and amazing hanging pillar of lepakshi to everyday utilities, stonecraft has seen a transformation with time and the craft continues to find its space in different hues and shapes
Brass which is an alloy of copper and zinc, is of historical and enduring importance because of its hardness and workability. Most would be familiar with the peal of brass bells in temples and churches or the deepam kundalu, bindelu, idols, Urlis etc., in daily life. This craft is practised in many districts of Andhra Pradesh, each adopting to their unique style and product. The craft is here to stay for as long as brass itself
How children love to play with wet earth and mould them into different shapes! There is no home garden complete without earthen potted plants and no ganesh puja without a clay murthy of Ganesh. Local artisans have used this versatile medium to mould various items. Palamaneru mandal of Chittoor district is known for its fine clay and unique colored terracotta products
Humans are known to be creative by nature and there is no material that does not bring out these creative skills. Leather craft is just an extension of this natural instinct. Leather puppetry artisans were the first performers to take folklore and epic stories from one village to another
When the world is on a fast track towards technology, innovation and development, it’s time to take a step back and appreciate the simpler things in life. Our tribal and village folk have always found sustainable livelihoods. Palm leaf and bamboo products of our state need as much attention if not more
Embroidery has always been synonymous with a woman’s skill over centuries and is regarded as the art of decorating textiles using a needle and thread. Till date, hand embroidery continues to be an expensive and time-consuming method. However, in spite of this it is preferred because of the intricacy of the handiwork involved. Kondapalli artisans in Andhra Pradesh have ventured into this craft and emerged as one such cluster. . . more
Women through the ages are known to have spent spare time using the cotton thread and hook to create lace, table and bed spreads, etc., but the idea of empowering such women through their craft is a recent one. The Narsapur cluster of lace (crochet) makers is one such attempt
‘Kalamkari ‘ which literally means ‘pen-craft’ could be either hand-painted or block printed as is practised in Srikalahasti and Pedana respectively. It is known that Andhra Pradesh witnessed a boost in economic growth through trade due to Kalamkari fabrics. The geographic location of Andhra Pradesh worked in favor of Kalamkari artisans due to proximity to river water and to the hubs of cotton-producing regions
