 Doors are a
significant part of a household, and Hindu scriptures encourage doorframes of carved wood
as a welcome entrance for guests. As elaborate as the welcome, one can still find carved
door frames, balconies and beams in old Indian homes.
 The doors not only play a cultural function but
also represent the class and social standing of the person to which it belongs. The noble
men and rich business men often had intricately carved doors. The variuos material used
for making the doors include wood, sandalwood, metal, white metal, etc. Often, more than
one material is used to create beauitful inlay works which outshine numerous other
artifacts which are created purely for decoration.
 Door making has been a very refined art in the
Indian state of Rajasthan. Even the poor often put in efforts to make their doors friendly
and artistic. The monoliths created by the rajputs and the marwari traders still stand
testimony to the past it was. Even today, in traditional Rajasthani towns and villages,
people have not forgotten the traditional art and kept it alive by their sheer interest in
this dying artform.
At display at the IHE are intricately carved wooden doors,
as well as, a huge white metal door, minutely detailed to perfection.. |
