-- Andhra Pradesh Art & Crafts --

Lacquerware:-

Lacquer craft is application of lacquer on wood in pleasing shades to create a distinctive appeal. Etikoppaka in Andhra Pradesh is one of the most important centres of this craft. Lacquering is done on a lathe, hand- or machine-operated. For turning slender and delicate items, the hand-lathe is preferred. Lac is applied in a dry state. That is, the lac-stick is pressed against the woodenware to be lacquered. As the latter keeps revolving the heat from friction softens the lac, enabling the color to stick. Design are painted with a brush on figures, objects and toys. Among the most popular lacquerware are the lac bangles. Hitherto studded with gold and precious stones, today they are also available with beads, glass, stones, mirrors and more.

Nirmal:-

In Nirmal town, Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh, there is a concentration of craftsmen known as Nakash, whose traditional art is painting scenes from the Hindu epics-Mahabharata and Ramayana. These craftsmen use indigenous colors made from minerals, gum and herbs. The now familiar gold in Nirmal work is got herbal juices. Over the years, Nirmal work has grown to meet new needs. Moving away from being mere painters of epics, the craftsmen today paint motifs in the style of Indian schools.

Puppets, Toys and Dolls:-

In India, toys and dolls have a history as old as icons and idols themselves. From the realm of divine inspiration to, day to day recreation, the craftsmen with their innate skills transformed mundane objects as toys into expressions of art. In fact, Andhra Pradesh has a number of toy forms. Leather puppets, kondapalli dolls, tirupati dolls, Nirmal toys and Etikoppaka dolls.

Folk Paintings:- 

There is a very picturesque origin to the art of painting. "Narayan", the Supreme Being was engaged in meditation when when clestical dancing girls apsaras tried to disturb him with a display of coquetry and blandishments. The god concieved of a plan to cure the maidens of their vanity. The apsaras were put to shame when they saw this painted maiden Urvashi, and crept away silently from God's prsence. And the picture into which Divine skill had infused the golden breath of life, became the ideal form of feminine beauty. Vishwakarma, the architect of heaven, was then instructed bin the art and science of painting so that he might transmit his knowledge to the people of the earth.