CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

Subject: Powder case. A powder case made of stone that has a scrollwork design on the basal body and the lid also has a scrollwork design confined in three shapes. Odisha’s most recognized craft is stone carving. Odisha’s maharanas (stone carvers) sculpt in stones with simple tools by first outlining the figure on a stone block. The outline is incised to mark the shape of the motif and then the figure is carved. Stone carved sculptures are made for iconic sculptures from Odisha’s temples and idols of Hindu deities. This is an in-house artefact of the State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.

Subject: Demon Head Mask. This a demon head mask made of papier-mâché. Masks are an important part of Odisha’s culture. In Puri, they are used for sahijatra which means street theater. The folk theater probably originated as a show of strength during Mughal invasion when people chose to participate in masks. Demonic masks like these are hung at the entrance of the home to ward off evil spirits and ill luck. Papier-mâché is a French word for chewed paper. The craft is said to have been introduced during the Mughal reign. The surface of papier-mâché produces an ideal ground for painting, which is probably the reason the craft became popular in Odisha with its traditional pattachitra painters. This art in Odisha uses a fusion of paper, cloth rags and straw. It is pulped by hand after softening with water. Additives like multani mitti are added to the pulp as an adhesive and for providing a textured finish. This object has been procured by State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.

Subject: Demon Head Mask. This a demon head mask made of papier-mâché. Masks are an important part of Odisha’s culture. In Puri, they are used for sahijatra which means street theater. The folk theater probably originated as a show of strength during Mughal invasion when people chose to participate in masks. Demonic masks like these are hung at the entrance of the home to ward off evil spirits and ill luck. Papier-mâché is a French word for chewed paper. The craft is said to have been introduced during the Mughal reign. The surface of papier-mâché produces an ideal ground for painting, which is probably the reason the craft became popular in Odisha with its traditional pattachitra painters. This art in Odisha uses a fusion of paper, cloth rags and straw. It is pulped by hand after softening with water. Additives like multani mitti are added to the pulp as an adhesive and for providing a textured finish. This object has been procured by State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.

Subject: Panikia Tani Bandha Body Bandha (Chungudia) Saree. The saree's body has flowers in orange and pink color and purple borders. This object was procured from Nuapatna No 2 Weavers Cooperative Society Ltd.

Subject: Dwarapala. Dwarapala (door guard) masks like these are hung at the entrance of the home to ward off evil spirits and ill luck. Masks of many shapes, forms and sizes are a part of Odisha’s culture. In Puri, they are used for sahijatra which means street theater. The folk theater probably originated as a show of strength during Mughal invasion when people chose to participate in masks. This object has been procured by State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.

Subject: Sirigantia Silk Saree. The saree has mathematical equations and drawings on the body. The anchal (end) has rows of Roman alphabets. The color scheme of the saree is black and brown. This saree was procured from Smt. Jharana Meher.

Subject: Detailed view of the southwest corner turret over the bastion of the Western Gateway (Lahori Darwaza)

Subject: Traditional Silk Bomkai Saree. This saree is named after the original place of production i.e. in village Bomkai of Ganjam district of Odisha. Initially, the saree was in production with two-ply 40?s x 20?s cotton yarn adorned with designs made from the jala technique. The main motifs used are 'karela' or bitter guard, atasi flower, kanthiphula or a small flower, fish or fly, bird, peacock, tortoise, lotus, wooden lamp stand, small drum used by lord Shiva, tooth, horizontal half diamond or horizontal full diamond. Nowadays, this is woven in both silk and cotton with a very fine texture associated with modern ikat and extra weft motifs mostly in Subarnpur/Sonepur district of Odisha. The color scheme of this saree is green and red. This saree was procured from Kabiraj Nayak.

Subject: View of the interior of the double-storied Western Gateway (Lahori Darwaza) with chambers on two levels attached to the rooms (north)

Subject: Golapa Phula Bandha Saree. This saree is woven with 2/120s mercerized cotton yarn with tie and dye design in weft only. The saree has motif of the rose flower all over the anchal (end) and its body. This saree was procured from weaver Bhagabana Meher.

Subject: Bed Lamp. A decorative bed lamp. Odisha’s most recognized craft is stone carving. Odisha’s most recognized craft is stone carving. Odisha’s maharanas (stone carvers) sculpt in stones with simple tools by first outlining the figure on a stone block. The outline is incised to mark the shape of the motif and then the figure is carved. Stone carved sculptures are made for iconic sculptures from Odisha’s temples and idols of Hindu deities. This is an in-house artefact of the State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.

Subject: Bed Lamp. A decorative bed lamp. Odisha’s most recognized craft is stone carving. Odisha’s most recognized craft is stone carving. Odisha’s maharanas (stone carvers) sculpt in stones with simple tools by first outlining the figure on a stone block. The outline is incised to mark the shape of the motif and then the figure is carved. Stone carved sculptures are made for iconic sculptures from Odisha’s temples and idols of Hindu deities. This is an in-house artefact of the State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.

Subject: Naga. A stone Naga, a semidivine being in Hinduism and Buddhism. Here, he holds a sword and kamandala in his two hands. Odisha’s most recognized craft is stone carving. Odisha’s maharanas (stone carvers) sculpt in stones with simple tools by first outlining the figure on a stone block. The outline is incised to mark the shape of the motif and then the figure is carved. Stone carved sculptures are made for iconic sculptures from Odisha’s temples and idols of Hindu deities. This is an in-house artefact of the State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.

Subject: Hansarali Cotton Bed Sheet. A bed sheet diapered with motifs of a pair of swans. This object was procured from Sambalpuri Bastralaya Handloom Co-operative Society Ltd.

Subject: Naga. A stone Naga, a semidivine being in Hinduism and Buddhism. Here, he holds a sword and kamandala in his two hands. Odisha’s most recognized craft is stone carving. Odisha’s maharanas (stone carvers) sculpt in stones with simple tools by first outlining the figure on a stone block. The outline is incised to mark the shape of the motif and then the figure is carved. Stone carved sculptures are made for iconic sculptures from Odisha’s temples and idols of Hindu deities. This is an in-house artefact of the State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.

Subject: Naga. A stone Naga, a semidivine being in Hinduism and Buddhism. Here, he holds a sword and kamandala in his two hands. Odisha’s most recognized craft is stone carving. Odisha’s maharanas (stone carvers) sculpt in stones with simple tools by first outlining the figure on a stone block. The outline is incised to mark the shape of the motif and then the figure is carved. Stone carved sculptures are made for iconic sculptures from Odisha’s temples and idols of Hindu deities. This is an in-house artefact of the State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.

Subject: Border Jhoti Saree. This saree is woven with 2/120s mercerized cotton yarn with tie and dye design only in the weft. The saree has a jhoti or alpana motif. Jhoti Chitta is a traditional Odia white art mostly shown in rural areas of Odisha. It is made during festivals like marriage, Manabasa Gurubara and Raja Praba. The tradition of jhoti chitas has been utilized used to make saree prints. This saree was procured from weaver Bhagabana Meher.

Subject: Bowl. This octagonal bowl possibly serves a utilitarian purpose. Odisha’s most recognized craft is stone carving. Odisha’s maharanas (stone carvers) sculpt in stones with simple tools by first outlining the figure on a stone block. The outline is incised to mark the shape of the motif and then the figure is carved. Stone carved sculptures are made for iconic sculptures from Odisha’s temples and idols of Hindu deities. This is an in-house artefact of the State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.

Subject: Shivalinga. An aniconic representation of the Hindu deity Shiva in stone. Odisha’s most recognized craft is stone carving. Odisha’s maharanas (stone carvers) sculpt in stones with simple tools by first outlining the figure on a stone block. The outline is incised to mark the shape of the motif and then the figure is carved. Stone carved sculptures are made for iconic sculptures from Odisha’s temples and idols of Hindu deities. This is an in-house artefact of the State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.

Subject: Architectural Fragment. A fragment of the adhishtana (plinth) or basal molding of a temple. It shows a part of the head of a Vyala (mythical animal). This object has been loaned by the Odisha State Museum.

Subject: Brinjal. Papier-mâché is a French word for chewed paper. The craft is said to have been introduced during the Mughal reign. The surface of papier-mâché produces an ideal ground for painting, which is probably the reason the craft became popular in Odisha with its traditional pattachitra painters. This art in Odisha uses a fusion of paper, cloth rags and straw. It is pulped by hand after softening with water. Additives like multani mitti are added to the pulp as an adhesive and for providing a textured finish. This is a brinjal made from papier-mâché technique. This object has been procured by State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.

Subject: Leopard. This is a painted wooden leopard. An essential part of growing up in Odisha is toys, dolls, puppets and masks from wood. Animal figures are a popular theme. These toys are richly colored and developed in a stylized form. Often, gambhari or beech wood, the local wood is used for the carvings as it has a fine texture and is light-cream color though other woods may also be used. This object has been procured by State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.

Subject: Leopard. This is a painted wooden leopard. An essential part of growing up in Odisha is toys, dolls, puppets and masks from wood. Animal figures are a popular theme. These toys are richly colored and developed in a stylized form. Often, gambhari or beech wood, the local wood is used for the carvings as it has a fine texture and is light-cream color though other woods may also be used. This object has been procured by State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.

Subject: Bear. This is a bear made from paper-mâché technique. Papier-mâché is a French word for chewed paper. This craft was probably introduced during the Mughal reign. The surface of papier-mâché produces an ideal ground for painting, which is probably the reason the craft became popular in Odisha with its traditional pattachitra painters. This art in Odisha uses a fusion of paper, cloth rags and straw. It is pulped by hand after softening with water. Additives like multani mitti are added to the pulp as an adhesive and for providing a textured finish. This object has been procured by State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.