Meenakari Handicrafts

Origin of Meenakari Art

The word Minakari or Meenakari originates from the words Mina and Kari. Mina is a feminine variation of the word minoo which means paradise or heaven.

Essentially, Meenakari is the art of decorating metal with enameling. Enameling involves colorings or decorating a metal surface by attaching or fusing pieces of different mineral substances over it. Thus, enameling is considered to be the most alluring and technical of all metal decorations.

The art of enameling metal for ornamental reasons dates back to the Parthian and Sassanid period of Iranian or Persian history. However, in India, the meticulous ornamental work of today can be traced back to the 15th century when it was introduced by the Moghuls. Subsequently the Indian craftsmen perfected the technique and made the designs more intricate.

In the 16th century, Raja Man Singh of Amber brought Meenakari From the Mughals to Rajasthan. He brought skillful minakars from Lahore and established them in Jaipur, which subsequently became the center of Meenakari.

Meenakari Handicrafts

The history of metal craft in India dates way back to the Indus Valley Civilization. Over time, Indian craftsmen became experts at working magic with metal to create beautiful pieces. The tradition has continued over generation and even now, Indian craftsmen create beautiful sculptures, utensils, vases, ornaments and boxes. They use metals like iron, copper, silver as well as alloys like bell metal, white metal, and bronze to create handicrafts. The Meenakari craftsmen, subsequently, color and decorate the surface of these metals using brilliant colors and intricate designs.