Handmade in India

CAMEL TRAPPINGS
CAMELS,ONCE THE chief mode of
transportation in the deserts of western
Rajasthan,were adorned with several trappings
including the tang(camel girth),the gorbandh
(necklace),the godiya and sariya(ankle and
knee bands),and the morka(bridle).Although
the popularization of motorized transport in
these regions has led to the decreasing use of
camels for personal transport,camels adorned
with these trappings may still be seen in the
desert regions of Jaisalmer where they cater to
safaris orgnaized for tourists.Camel girths are
sturdy,narrow lenghts of fabrics that primarily
serve to secure the heavy wood and metal
saddle in position.
The two-layered oblique interlacing technique
used to create this camel belt requires cords
made of two dark and two light plies;these
cords are always split so that either the dark or
the two light plies are uppermost, thus allowing
the weaves to be manipulated to create motifs.
on the camel`s back.Used in pairs,these girths are attached to each side of the saddle bar,passed under the
camel`s belly and affixed to the other side of the saddle.The tang is made of natural coloured goat hair or
cotton cords using the split-ply braiding technique where sets of four-plied cords are attached to a narrow
support rod and each cord follows an oblique course where it may be split and in the process be seen or
concealed.Through the manipulation of the braiding technique,patterns of men,women animals,trees and
birds may be created with varying degrees of realism.
A cotton camel belt.
Production Clusters
Jaisalmer
Barmer
Bikaner
Products
Tang-camel girth
Gor bandh-necklace
Godiya-anklet
Sariya-knee band
Morka-bridle
Tools
Gunthani-wooden
hook
Detail of a reversible cotton camel belt done in
single course oblique twining.
The saddle on the camel`s back is held in place
with a belt made of goat hair.
A craftsman demonstrating a belt made by splitply
braiding technique.