The seventh edition of Royal Fables will see pure gold woven saris by Thakurani Darshana Kumari of Mandawa and rural art of MP from the royal family of Jhabua among others. By Rupinder Kaur
For six years, Royal Fables have brought the art, culture, tradition and the rich heritage of the few Royal families of the country under one roof. It is one platform where the best works from the different Indian schools of art meet, greet and are displayed.
But for the first time, in the current seventh edition, unveiling today at The Mansion, Hyatt Regency Delhi, Royal Fables, will showcase a rich heritage installation titled Vintage Revisited, in collaboration with two leading French design connoisseurs — globally acclaimed chandelier restorer Mathieu lustrieire and legendary couture embroidery master Jean Francois-lesage. They will together present the great connect between the Indian Maharajas in the Raj era and France, as to how French crystals, embroideries, lace and gossamer chiffons influenced the interiors of many Indian palaces. Regis Mathieu will present chandeliers from laxmi Niwas Palace of Baroda in their regal splendor, while Jean Francois-lesage will recreate the aura of regal, vintage and ceremonial linen.
Collectors and connoisseurs can look forward to a rich and robust cache of design and art by 50 royal families of India. On display would be craft and textiles collection from the Palace Atelier led by Princess Diya Kumari of Jaipur; oleographs and textiles from HH Maharani Radhikaraje Gaekwad of Baroda; pure gold woven saris by Thakurani Darshana Kumari of Mandawa; exquisite organic cotton ensembles by Kanwarani Kamini Singh of Seohara, among other stuff.
The art wall will unveil contemporary art created in palace art schools across India. It will include miniature art from Kangra Collection of Contemporary art hand-picked by Tikaraaj Ashwarya and Tikarani Shailaja Katoch of lambagaon-Kangra, miniature poetic Pichwais with elements of the lotus, the cow, the Bani Thani and the very reverent Radha Krishna in a pop, modern and kitschy context by Princess Vaishnavi Kumari of Kishangarh; fired enamel art on copper and steel by Princess Jyotsna Singh of Jammu & Kashmir, et al.
Participant Rajkumari Nandini Singh of Jhabua will be showcasing artworks from different genres of artists. “Particularly from Madhya Pradesh,” she said. It will include paintings on wildlife on mediums like charcoal, water colour on paper and acrylic on silk. “There will also be Gond art from a village from Dindori in MP and also a beautiful kalamkari art titled Tree of life. My entire focus is to bring to the fore the rural artworks from the villages, especially MP,” she added.
Artworks, paintings, painted apparels like dupatta, sarees, home accessories like organic cushion covers, wooden boxes and trays will be the focus of Princess Vaishnavi Kumari of Kishangarh. She said, “It is a great opportunity for people from erstwhile royal families to showcase what they are doing in their own places to uplift and encourage crafts people in their areas. Its unlike other exhibitions held in other Indian metropolitan cities as a diverse range of products and regions are represented here.”
When we asked her whether she is open to letting those interested in the indigenous arts, she said, “We have have foreign scholars from all around the world who come to research Kishangarh miniature paintings. In fact I did my masters thesis in Kishangarh miniature paintings.”
Baisa Pushpita Singh of Kharwa designs jewellery using the intricate craft of kundan and meenakari (enamel work) using gold as the base metal. “This season I have been able to recreate an ancient Maratha neckpiece-traditonally referred as Thussi using both gold and polki. Keeping in mind the paucity of everyday adornment for men I have designed cufflinks and jadau sherwani button sets using old designs. I will be also be bringing some traditional design in neckpieces and earrings like Chandbalas, which were popular among both the Rajputs and Mughals,” she gave the details.