Craft Expo 2011 celebrates the country's handicraft tradition that's as colourful as it is varied. On show are Kishengarh's famous ethnic ‘peedis', tables and chairs painted Rajput style, in banana green, turmeric yellow and ultramarine blue. There's more colour provided by stacks of mirror-encrusted lac bangles made by master artisans from Jaipur and bright Khurja pottery in turquoise and indigo blue. Beautifully faceted wooden bangles from Chennapatna in rainbow hues and red-and-white thread jewellery complete the vibrant picture. Mix and match Kishangarh's garden chairs with exuberant Warangal dhurries, zari lac bangles with Kutch embroidered patchwork kurties, and vividly painted Kondapalli toys with Kerala's gaily decorated rosewood elephants.
There's a section featuring contemporary jewellery too with semi-precious stones, silver fretwork and wooden beads forming a spectacular display. Around 50 varieties of semi-precious stones such as turquoise, malachite, garnet, lapis lazuli, golden topaz and amethyst cut in beautiful shapes and set in silver make attractive ornaments.
Craft Expo 2011 is on at C.P. Arts Centre, 1, Eldams Road, Alwarpet till February 7.
