Gulabi meenakari brooch to ittar bottles: PM's gifts to G7 leaders a slice of Indian crafts
- During his visit to the recently held G7 summit, the Indian PM has presented various artistic gifts to each G member.
Gift Diplomacy
Gulabi Meenakari Brooch and Cufflinks from Varanasi
- Gifted to: US President
- Gulabi Meenakaari:
- GI tagged art from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
- Base: Pure Silver
Black Pottery from Nizamabad
- Gifted to: Japanese PM
- Nizamabad black clay pottery:
- GI tagged from Uttar Pradesh.
- Brought to Nizamabad during the reign of Mughals
Dokra Art from Chhattisgarh
- Gifted to: Argentina President
- Theme: Nandi
- Dhokra sculptures:
- An age-old wax-casting technique also known as Lost-wax process.
- Dhokra: alloy of brass, nickel and zinc which gives an antique look.
- Oldest specimen using such technique was during Harappan Period.
- Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-daro.
Hand-painted Tea Set from Bulandshahar
- Gifted to: British PM
- Why Tea Set?
- Tea is considered an important part of British identity and is a prominent feature of British culture and society.
Ittar Bottles from Kannauj, Packed in Zardozi Box
- Gifted to: French President
- GI tagged perfumes from Kannauj, UP
- Lucknow Zardozi: GI tag fro Uttar Pradesh.
- Why Ittar Bottles?
- France is leader in perfume market with 30% of the world market.
Marble inlay tabletop from Agra
- Gifted to: Italian PM
- Why Marble Inlay?
- Marble inlay has its origins in Opus sectile - a form of pietra dura popularised in the ancient and medieval Roman world where materials were cut and inlaid into walls and floors to make a picture or pattern.
Moonj Baskets and Cotton Durries from Prayagraj, Amethi and Sultanpur
- Gifted to: Senegal President
- Agra Durrie: GI tagged
- Why Moonj Baskets and Durries?
- Tradition of hand-weaving is passed down from mother to daughter in Senegal.
Handmade knotted silk carpet from Kashmir
- Gifted to: Canadian PM
- Silk Carpet:
- GI tag from Kashmir
- Locally known as "Kal baffi"
- Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin brought carpet weavers from Persia and central Asia to Kashmir to train local inhabitants.
Metal Marodi Carving Matka from Moradabad
- Gifted to: German Chancellor
- Moradabad Metal Craft:
- GI tagged from Uttar Pradesh
Lacquerware Ramdarbar from Varanasi
- Gifted to: Indonasian PM
- Lacquerware:
- GI tagged art from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
- Why Ramdarbar?
- To celebrate the shared Ramayana links between India and Indonesia
- Indonesian version of Ramayana - known as Kakawin Ramayana - was written during the Medang Kingdom (8th-11th century) in Central Java.