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USTA ART
The unique form of paintings on camel
hide
Usta Art came from Iran and flourished in the Mughal durbars and
inter-mingled with the Indian culture. Raja Rai Singh, the then king of
Bikaner, brought nawab Usta artists to his kingdom. The Usta artisans of
Bikaner developed a new stream of Usta art. Their descendents manifested
its beauty in the form of Bikaner's fabulous Junagarh Fort's Anoop
palace, Chandra palace, karan palace and Phool Mahal. The art is still
thriving and to this day , Usta craftsmen can be seen practicing the
art, handed down by their ancestors.
Mohammad Haneef Usta Mr.Ayub Usta, Mr. Iqubal, Mr. Altaf, Mr. Javed
Hasan, All have carved a niche in Usta art. . In 1989 Mo.Haneef was
honored with state award for his excellence in Manowati Gold embossing.
He is being awarded National award for his excellence in Manowati Gold
Nakkashi.
At present you can find usta work at Rampuria havelies ,Ajmer Dargah,
Delhi Mizamudin Oliya and Mazaar of Amir khusro
the Junagarh fort. During the British rule, leather goods came in use
for embossing. After the emboding, it is painted and gold is applied
where ever required. Then the ink is used with a brush made of squirrel
hair to fill the design withdifferent colours.The Usta art of Bikaner is
world famous for its multidimensional forms like meenakari on camel
hide, golden meenakari and paintings in palaces and havelis of Bikaner.
Mohd. Hanif Usta is a leading Usta artisan of the state. He has
inherited this art form from his forefathers and has created excellent
pieces of art displayed on camel hide, stone and metal.
Apart from Utsa art ,there are varied forms of miniature paintings that
are quite popular with contributions from eminent artists like Shri
Mahaveer Swai Ram& Narayan Swami. ¦
This art came in India with Usta artists from Iran brought by the
emperors and flourished in the Mughal period in courts and palaces. A
group of seven Usta artists paintings can be seen even today in the
rooms of the Junagarh fort. During the British rule, leather goods came
in use for embossing. After the emboding, if is painted and gold is
applied where ever required. Then the ink is used with a brush made of
squirrel hai to fill the design withdifferent colours. The Usta art of
Bikaner is world famous for its multidimentional forms like meenakari on
camel hide, golden meenakari and painting in Usta is a leading usta
artisan of the state. He has inherited this art form from his
forefathers and has created excellent pieces of art displyed on camel
hide, stone and metal.
Apart from Usta art, there are varied forms of miniature paintings that
are quite popular with contributions from eminent artists like shre
Mahaveer Swai Ram & Narayan Swami. |
