Cherubs

The art of Thewa was developed by artisans in south Rajasthan about 400 years ago. For generations, master craftsmen from this region, under the patronage of the erstwhile princely states, have produced extraordinary objects of exquisite design and beauty using this technique.

Developed painstakingly by master craftsmen over decades, mostly through family tradition, the process involves several stages, each more intricate than the other. Red, blue, green, white, turquoise, or black coloured glass is cut into the desired shape and encased in a frame of gold plated silver wire. Sketches depicting traditional floral or historical motifs are made on paper thin sheets of pure gold of the same size as the glass piece, using special tools. The gold sheet is then fused onto the surface of the glass using a special heating technique. The process looks simple but requires extreme skill, experience and expertise to produce the desired product which is delicate, exquisite and unique. Being hand made, each piece produced is exclusive and bears the stamp of the master craftsman who created it.

This is one of the few art forms which depicts with such meticulous detail, scenes from day-to-day life and legends on such a small and delicate surface. Influence of the royal patronage is evident from the topics chosen. Hunting scenes, palanquins, royal processions, elephants, deer and lions, Maharana Pratap riding his famous horse Chetak, scenes from battle, Krishna with his gopis and peacocks are common motifs chosen by the artistes.

Beautiful Thewa ornaments are displayed in various museums or are proud possessions of private collectors around the world like the Metropolitan Museum, New York and the Geological Museum in London. The Queen of England has, in her personal collection, a casket with intricate work of narrative panels.

The Thewa work is one of the finest examples of India's glorious past, culture, master craftsmanship and is a constant reminder of the rich heritage and traditions, where human skill has devolved for generations. A handful of families in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh still practice this art to create objects of infinite beauty and elegance.