Handmade in India

RAYON DHURRIE
Production clusters
Erode district:
Bhavani
Products
Jamkalam-dhurrie
Terai seelai-religious
icons
Wall hanging
STRIPED COTTON BHAVANI DHURRIE IS WELL known
hand woven product of Bhavani and Kumaraplayam.These flat
thinner rayon weft or two-plied thicker rayon yarn.Besides the
striped designs,a few weavers weave ornamented rayon wall
hangings in bright colours with floral borders and motifs.The
unique feature of the rayon textiles is thed introduction of
borders and figurative forms of animals and
birds,deities,alphabets and mythical figures woven in the extra
weft technique.Religious icons of Balaji,Christ,Ganesha,Laxmi
and other deities are woven where the icon is decorated with a
border or row of motifs.Patterning in extra weft is done by
manually picking up warp threads according to the desired
motif and a 12-plied weft of rayon is woven,which rests on a
ground of finer rayon(only two-plied).This makes the motif
prominent and gives it a relief texture.
Detail of a parrot motif woven in the extra weft technique,using
12 -plied rayon weft.The ornamented dhurrie used on special
occasions,is predominantly blue with a large peacock motif in
the centre enclosed by a multicoloured border.
Detail of lamp motif used in the border
around an image of Ganesha.
Tools
Kai thari-hand loom
Pannai-bamboo reed
Vadi settu-heald shaft
Oorulai-pulleys
Bowani ratta-hank
winder
Bowani-bobbin
Tharu kutchi-quill
Sendu kutchistretcher
Detail of a patta
kettai,traditional
striped Bhavani
dhurrie woven with a
cotton warp and rayon
filament weft.Patta
refers to the broad
stripes and kettai to
thin stripes.
Detail showing the
ribbed texture of a
Bhavani dhurrie due to
the weft-faced plain
weave structure,woven
with two-plied rayon
filament.The design is
called patta akurai
calar goundu,stripe
with a pointed tip.
BAMBOO FLUTE
1. Bamboo flutes of different pitches and sizes.
2. Craftsman using a red hot poker to burn holes in the bamboo at measured intervals.
THE CRAFTSMAN IN Erode is originally from Kumbakonam
in Thanjavur district which has a flourishing tradition of classical
music.The craftsman is adept at making and playing flute in
Thanjavur.The bamboo procurred from Coimbatore,Kutralam
and Nagercoil is cut and holes are drilled in it using a metal
poker called the tholai podum kambi,which is heated and its
pointed tip placed on the marked areas to burn holes on the
bamboo.The finished flute is polished with sandpaper.Different
degrees of polish are done according to the client`s
requirements.Finally varnish is applied as a protective layer on
the flute.Flute of different pitches ranging from number 1 to
7,are made and each flute is made for a kattai,one particular
pitch.
Production Clusters
Erode district:
Erode
Products
Bamboo flutes of
different pitches
Tools
Tholai podum kambi
- metal poker