Traditional Glass Mirror Making in Kapadvanj, Gujarat, India and an Outline of the Use

Jan Kock, Torben Sode

Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/proceedingBook chapterResearchpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

The production of lead-backed mirrors in India dates back to the early Mughal period (1526–1857), when the craft was introduced by Persian craftsmen. In the seventeenth century, the Mughals used them to decorate their palaces, a tradition that continued until the nineteenth century. In Kutch, Gujarat, the locals have decorated the walls and interiors of their mud houses with glass mirrors for centuries. The use of mirrors is still quite widespread among the people living in the rural areas of Gujarat and in southwestern Rajasthan that incorporate them in embroideries. The people of the Banjara community, who live mainly in the central part of India, are known for using relatively large glass mirrors, up to 10 cm in diameter, in their embroidered textiles. In Gujarat and Rajasthan, the mirror pieces are also used to decorate boxes, furniture, small figures and other objects.

Translated title of the contributionTraditionel spejlfremstilling i Kapadvanj, Gujarat, India samt en oversigt over brug
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAncient Glass of South Asia : Archaeology, Etnography and Global Connections
EditorsAlok Kumar Kanungo, Laure Dussubieux
Number of pages20
Place of publicationSingapore
PublisherSpringer Nature
Publication date1 Jan 2021
Pages301 - 321
ISBN (Print)978-981-16-3655-4
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2021

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