Manasvini KR

Thanjavur Art Plate

One traditional art form that was patronised by the Thanjavur Marathis is the craft of making “Art plates”. These art plates are made on a brass support that is usually circular and is embedded with forged thin metal sheets of copper and silver. This 250 year old technique was practiced by the Viswakarma community of the place and is made till today. This technique unlike any other is display of the artists keen sense of aesthetics merged with technique and skill. A documentation of this technique is vital for study and for posterity. This technique is vastly changing with advancement of technology and with variations in aesthetics. As these art plates gain popularity, two of them have also become part of British Museum’s and Baroda Museum’s collections. Understanding the unique method of making these plates will help understand deterioration patterns, designing storage and display and suitable conditions for both.