The artistory of Applique & Cutwork work
As our car sped across the dessert roads of Barmer district in Rajasthan we were getting a feeling that we were moving further and further away from civilization, to an area so remote that most people within the country may have never heard of it. A tiny dessert village with a quaint name of Mithrau, just 2 kms away from the border with Pakistan.
The village is inhabited primarily by people who migrated from Pakistan during the 1971 war and made a life for themselves in India. Their smiling faces lined with a network of wrinkles tell us about their life’s journeys.
They brought along with them the exquisite art of applique and cut work as well as the art of intricate embroidery.
The art of appliqué involves drawing a motif and then precisely cutting a prototype of that shape. Then the same design is cut on fabric…either plain or block printed. This cut design is then hand stitched onto another fabric to wither create wall hangings, bed spreads, cushion covers and apparel
The art of cut work involves the complex process of drawing a pattern on the fabric, hammering the pattern with precision to cut it and then layering the base with another fabric. the colours can be subtle and pale or contrasting colours.
The common motifs used are tree of life, elephants, king & queen, camels, horses, along with geometrical patterns.
The ladies proudly show off their heirlooms of intricate applique and mirror work that is passed down generations by the elderly women as the trousseau for the young brides. The vibrant colors and the intricate hand embroidery make each piece unique and worthy of preservation, to be passed on from generation to generation.
