The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Revisit royalty at Craft Utsav

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 18, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Revisit royalty at Craft Utsav

Staff Reporter

Expo at Sri Sankara Hall has something new to offer

PICTURE PERFECT: Actor Chaya Singh poses with some of the products available at the Craft Utsav on Saturday.

CHENNAI: A brass elephant, frozen in the act of trumpeting to the skies and bearing a hefty Rs.3 lakh price tag, greets visitors to the Craft Utsav at the Sri Sankara Hall on TTK Road. Inaugurated on Saturday by actor Chaya Singh, of ‘Thiruda Thirudi’ fame, the Utsav showcases many items that herald a return to a royal lifestyle.

Giant jewellery boxes, that only royalty could possibly fill, come with little drawers to hold the tinier pieces of precious metal. Chunky metal armlets, a sheesham wood divan, antique Chettinad kuthuvilakkus, a tea table with a chess board for a table top, wood-framed mirrors with wrought iron work all around -— besides the usual handicrafts and handlooms common to such fairs, this one springs a few surprises.

Some of the items, like the paintings on mid-19th century stamp paper, are not on display. Valued then at four annas or one rupee, the browning parchment with the seals of Jaipur’s kings has now escalated in value and has been brightened with hand painted scenes of royal processions.

‘Vivah’ and ‘Devdas’ bangles are available, besides lacquer bangles with zardosi and bandini work.

Luminous paintings on black velvet, colourful puppets, marble pestles and rolling boards with pins, pallankuli sets, jewellery with semi precious stones, handlooms from across the country, sandstone Ganeshas, rudraksha, palm leaf engravings, reed bags and boxes with zari borders and Ravi Varma reproductions are among the other items on display.

The exhibition, open between 10 a.m. and 9.30 p.m., is on till June 25.

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