Untwisted or floss silk.

Embroidery motif used by herding Jats in Kutch, Gujarat.

Embroidery motif used by herding Jats in Kutch, Gujarat.

Embroidery

An important branch of the kanbi farming caste who live in southern and central Saurashtra.

Bengind; the name of a stitch which appears to slope in nakshi kantha embroidery.

Work of manufacturing iron tools.

Black wave, a traditional motif in mashru fabric of Gujarat .

Silk thread braided with zari thread.

Silver gilt thread used for brocading and embroidery.

Gold wire used in brocade weaving and embroidery in Kashmir.

(In urdu) Pen. Pen-like instrument made of either bamboo or iron with a felt-like reservoir near the tip, used for drawing out the designs or applying the wax resists for the kalamkari cloth of Masulipatnam and Kalahasti in Andhra Pradesh.

Penwork hand-painted textiles of Masulipatnam and Kalahasti in Andhra Pradesh, usually used as temple backdrops. Though much of the Masulipatnam production is in fact block printed and used for clothing, but the cloths are still known as kalamkaris.

Hand-painted fabrics of Andhra Pradesh.

The universe, prolific, all-pervading, auspicious symbol of prosperity.

Pitcher.

Container in the shape of a bitter gourd, a local term used by the nomadic Ghantrar community of metalsmiths of Orissa.

(In Bengali) The paisley; of Persian and Kashmiri origin this motif is an integral image of subcontinental decorative motif.

Wish fulfilment pattern in nakshi kantha embroidery.

Wish fulfilling tree.

Stone cutters belonging to the Kammalan community of artisans of the South.

Anklets in South India.

Mendicant’s bowl.

Belt or waist band.

Embroidery done on muslin silk and other fine materials, with silver and gold wire.

Shirt-like tunic of north India and Pakistan. Usually worn over salwar (baggy pantaloons).

A blouse specially made of the mashru fabric of Gujarat.

Gold-leaf design on silk.

Kind of tent.

Chariot of Kandarpa, the God of Love.

Lit. tablecloth. Name of appliquéd shrine cloths offered to the shrine of Salar Masud at Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh.

Red seed of a wild creeper used by Manipuri potters to shine the surface of the clay pot before firing.

Type of zari motif for highlight design.

Outer borders of a sujni embroidery.

Particular type of loom-woven shawl of Kashmir.

Language of Karnataka State.

In Gujarat the craftsmen who make and deal in metal utensils of copper, brass, bronze are known as Kansara. The word is derived from the Gujarati kansu, meaning bronze which in turn is a derivation from the Sanskrit word kansya meaning bronze. Before brass /pittal, an alloy of copper and zinc, became popular, the use of bronze utensils was widespread, and therefore the term kansara which originally meant bronze worker became the general term for all utensil makers.

Quilt of old cloth; a generic name for a typical layered wrap made from between two to six layers of old saris/dhotis, stitched in a decorative method,evolved by the women of Bengal; the sewing threads were traditionally drawn from old sari borders.

Patched cloth embroideries of Bengal using old saris stitched together in running stitch.

The tiny quilting stitch worked on the base of the layered fabric to create a rippled effect. It is used in many ways to form textual patterns, such as the modelling style, and pipra-sari in nakshi kantha embroidery.

Kanthas are traditionally worked by village women on old cloth, mainly soft, discarded dhotis and saris. Layers of old white dhotis used by men or white or faded coloured saris are held together in running stitches along the edges, using thread drawn out of the faded borders of the discarded saris. These borders are generally torn off and preserved carefully for the purpose by kantha makers. The number of layers of cloth used depends on the use for which the kanthas is meant. If it is to be a quilt for use in the mild winters of Bengal, five or six layers of soft, fine cloth are used. Three or four layers usually suffice for other purposes. The top and bottom layers of a kantha are always white or of a very light colour, so that embroidery with faded threads drawn from the sari borders is not lost. The muted colours lend a charming, soft, pastel effect to the completed kantha.
Kanthas meant for use as quilts are called lepkanthas, and those designed as counterpanes are called sujanikanthas. Kanthas also serve as covers for boxes and mirrors, as pillowcases. Stoles for women and shawls for men; they are very popular as diapers for babies too.
The main characteristic of a kantha is the patterned running stitches in white thread with which the kantha-maker covers the whole surface of the piece. The stitches secure the layers together and the surface gets a delicate, rippled look.

A flower.

This container similar to katodan is in the shape of its base with a lid that is cone shaped. The tip of the cone has two heavy brass rings attached to it. Traditionally used by the Kathis in Gujarat to store ornaments.

A type of alloyed silver.

Fine metal embroidery done on silk or muslin.

Zari embroidery done on velvet or heavy satin.

The kard is basically similar in shape to the Afghan knife/churra but much smaller in size with the blade usually measuring 20 centimetres. The kard superficially resembles the pesh qabz but while the kard blade tapers gradually, the pesh qabz blade is wide at the hilt, narrowing acutely and then tapering to a long slender point.

A particular brocaded pattern technique of Varanasi.

Lt. Artist, now a generic term for artisans.

Wage workers.

Embroidery style most commonly seen on Harijan textiles in Kutch, Gujarat.

Production workshop.

Workshop, particularly of the Mughal period.

Artisan community of Orissa usually engaged in stone carving.

Cotton.

Spun.

Spun.

Embroidery of Bihar.

Traditional coin necklace of Kerala.

An embroidery style practised in Karnataka. Usually done on saris with blouses to match. From geometric motifs to figurative work, such as birds, animals, temples and plants, the embroidery is scattered over the field and concentrated on the pallav or end-piece. It is done in two types of stitches, the gavanti line or double running stitch, and murgi, the zig-zag done within the darning stitch, akin to gavanti. In both, the two sides are neat and identical. Negi is the ordinary running stitch.

Embroidery work of north Karnataka and the adjoining Kannada- speaking districts of Maharashtra. Figurative designs are worked in cross stitch and a variety of running stitches.

Gujarati term for appliqué.

A type of dagger.

Often considered the most interesting and effective Indian dagger the katar or jamdhar is found only in India. Its hilt consists of two parallel arms extending backwards from the blade. These are connected by two or more cross pieces which form the grip and are set near the centre of the arms. The blade, always double-edged, is triangular in shape and usually thickens at the point. The total length is generally about 1 ½ to 3 feet, half of it being the blade. The katar is of Rajput origin but its use was widespread. Rajput and Mughal miniature paintings of the period bear testimony to this fact.

Landowning caste of Saurashtra.

A style of embroidery in heer (floss) silk, utilizing geometric designs with adjoining areas of the design achieving a variation in texture by working one section in the horizontal direction, the other in the vertical, in the manner of Punjabi Bagh embroidery.

The kathputlis/ string puppets of Rajasthan, literally "wooden images", typically have wooden heads with large painted eyes and torsos adorned with dazzling, trailing skirts.
In many parts of Rajasthan the Bhat community of itinerant bards above with their mobile puppet theatre enact the heroic deeds of Rajput warrior kings such as Amar Singh Rathore and the unrequited love story of

Circular boxes with lid, used in Gujarat.

A unique container, this is a circular box with a lid. With a slightly broad and rounded bottom and a lid that is raised in the middle its peculiarity is that at the centre of the lid a bowl-like element is fixed separately. The lid itself, usually, having embossed geometric patterns, is joined by hinges to the box, and is closed with a latch. Used by the Kathis and Rajputs in Gujarat for storing clothes.

A type of reed from Manipur.

Receptable for the image of a diety worn as a pendant on a necklace. The Virashaivas or Lingayat community of the South.

Painted wooden mobile shrine carried by mendicants in Rajasthan.

Mango motif.

A tight-fitting, long-sleeved jacket with a skirt-like border flaring out from breastbone level. Worn by young children, adolescent boys and grown men in Gujarat.

A Chinese term for weft-faced, often slit-tapestry weaving.

The kestan mace head was a steel sphere and this was attached by a metallic chain to a steel haft or handle. The head was generally ribbed or had flanges. With a straight mace, where the spherical head is directly attached to the handle, the adversary can judge the direction of the blow and take parrying action, but when the mace head is a mobile sphere attached to a chain, it is very difficult to judge the direction or angle of the blow and parrying or evasive action requires much more skill and effort.

Handspun, handwoven cotton fabric.

White clay.

Handspun and handwoven fabric.

Date palm.

The blueprints.

Plates made from dry khakhra leaves used for serving meals.

A design in mashru fabric of Gujarat.

The khanjarli is a dagger of Hindu origin and is characterized by a double curved or S-shaped blade sharpened on both edges. The blade is generally grooved or fluted, has a mid-rib and a thickened point. A typical feature of the khanjarli is a wide mushroom like pommel and a knuckle guard. The hilt is made of two separate pieces of ivory or bone riveted to a flat tang.

Somewhat similar to the jambia dagger are the khanjars which have a curved blade of watered steel and a hilt reminiscent of a pistol butt. Though khanjars probably originated in Turkey, they became extremely popular in India, where they are apt to be more elaborately decorated than any other type of dagger. The hilts are made of ivory, jade, crystal, agate and are frequently set with precious and semi-precious stones.

Hand-turned lathe. While Kharadi is the occupational title given to lathe turners who are usually wood workers by caste in North India.

Mortar for grinding spices and medicines.

A particular type of raised printing with tinsel.

The khar-I-mahi, which is the fifth type of mace mentioned in the Ain-I-Akbari, was a spiked mace with a steel haft.

A nakshi kantha meant for use in a palanquin.

Wood carvers/carpenters of Rajasthan.

A caste of professional dyers.

An appliqué technique of Bihar where an entire piece of fabric is cut out in such a way that the cutout is attached to a background cloth of another colour without foregoing the contours of the original pieces.

Appliqué work of Bihar. The design is cut out of a whole piece of cloth which is then stitched to the background cloth. The term also applies to a method of Lucknow chikan work whereby sections of fine fabric are appliquéd underneath semi-transparent fabric.

Date palm leaf design in nakshi kantha embroidery.

A coiled wire.

Colloquial for mess; literally rice and lentils cooked together.

Oil lamp with a pointed end that is dug into the ground in North India.

Turkish word sometimes used to describe rugs without pile. It more precisely refers to rugs woven in slit tapestry weave made in the traditional rug producing areas of the Middle East.

Equals 2 Ibs. 3.2 oz.

Heavy silk fabric brocaded with silver and gold wire in weaving; and used mainly for furnishings. Also brocaded fabrics with large percentage of gold and silver wire interwoven Varanasi is the traditional production centre for kinkhab cloth.

Traditional basket makers-cum-cultivators in tribal Central India.

Thick paste prepared form rags, sawdust and tamarind seed powder, used to coat wooden sculptures by the craftsmen of Kinnal in Raichinur district of Karnataka.

A technique using a single element or yarn in which a loop is drawn through a precious loop at the edge of a fabric. It first appeared during the Middle Ages, probably in the Islamic world, from which it spread to Europe to the Americas.

A fabric formed by tying free-hanging sets of threads around adjacent threads, in combinations of structurally identical knots. See also macramé.

The technique of inlaying gold and silver wire on steel and iron, usually on swords, daggers and shields, is referred to as damascening. This is a variation of the damascening technique While in true damascening a fair amount of gold or inlaying metal is required, in false damascening, or koftgari, the previously scratched design on the surface of iron or steel is simply inlaid with gold or silver wire with the help of a hammer. The surface is heated and hammered again so that the soft gold may spread into the grooves of the design. Thus the gold or silver becomes one with the base metal producing a smooth embellished surface.

Ritual paintings executed on nuptial chamber walls of Brahmin, Kayastha and other communities in Madhubani area of North Bihar. Its centre is generally a cosmic sunburst.Women ritually paint the walls in connection with marriage ceremonies.

Traditional eye mascara made of smoked almond oil.

Pigeon coop, pyramid shaped geometric motif of the nakshi kantha embroidery.

Auspicious floor paintings made with rice-paste in Southern India.

Oriya term of tie dyed or ikat designs in a sari.

Ivory carvers of Bengal.

Corner motif.

Type of chisel used by craftsmen of Tirupati.

A double-walled basket given to a daughter as dowry.

A type of grass.

A coiled wire with less lustre used in zari embroidery.

Barrel-shaped clay grain containers with narrow bases from Gujarat.

To play, Sanskrit root.

A type of linen.

One who makes earthen pots.

Needle-like implement used for weaving kera mats.

Embroidery stitch, literally meaning weak, not durable in Kutch, Gujarat.

Grain measure in Madhya Pradesh.

A plant fibre.

A wild creeper; a motif used in block printing and weaving.

Potter in Kanarese.

Earthen pot.

One who makes earthen pots, mainly in Northern India.