Recently Zardozi artists in India are suffering from economic distress due to the lockdown, demonetisation and expensive local raw material.
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‘Zardozi art’
Zardozi embroidery is a beautiful metal embroidery, which once used to embellish the attire of the Kings and the royals in India.
Used to adorn walls of the royal tents, scabbards, wall hangings and the paraphernalia of regal elephants and horses.
Involves making elaborate designs, using gold and silver threads. Further adding to the magnificence of the work are the studded pearls and precious stones.
existence in India from the time of the Rig Veda. There are numerous instances mentioning the use of zari embroidery as ornamentation on the attire of gods.
combination of copper wire, with a golden or silver polish, and a silk thread.
Historical Background –
The word ‘Zardozi’ is made up of two Persian terms, Zar meaning gold and Dozi meaning embroidery.
A Persian embroidery form, Zardozi attained its peak in the 17th century, under the patronage of Mughal Emperor Akbar.
Under the rule of Aurangzeb, the royal patronage stopped and this led to the decline of the craft. Since the cost was high and raw materials quite rare, craftsmen could not carry on with the embroidery on their own.
