Garden of Eternal Spring: Museum of Meenakari Heritage

M M H

Museum Of

Meenakari

Heritage

Garden of Eternal Spring

A Permanent Gallery

by The Shekhawat Family

Jaipur, India

CONTENTS

Curator's Note

About the Museum

The Art of Meenakari

The Artworks

The Shekhawat Family

Acknowledgements & Glossary

Garden of Eternal Spring · Museum of Meenakari Heritage

I

Curator's Note

"In the world of high art, jewellery transcends its role as a mere accessory; it is a manifestation of cultural history, an expression of personal sentiment."

— Dr. Usha R. Balakrishnan, Curator

Garden of Eternal Spring

CURATOR'S NOTE

A Living Testament to India's Enamelling Legacy

The 'Garden of Eternal Spring' explores the rich tapestry of meenakari enamelling in India. It pays tribute to the mastery and skill of countless artisans who have carried forward this ancient art form through the centuries.

Visitors journey from Renaissance Europe, where enamelling reached new heights, to its arrival in India — a transference of skill that became the seed for transformation and innovation.

As visitors traverse the space, they journey from Renaissance Europe to its arrival in India. This process led to a vivid tapestry of shared knowledge and collective creativity led by the masterful hands of Indian artisans.

Dr. Usha R. Balakrishnan

Art & Jewellery Historian, Curator

Conceptualised & Curated by Dr. Usha R. Balakrishnan · Designed by Siddhartha Das Studio

II

ABOUT THE MUSEUM

2,200

SQ. FT. GALLERY SPACE

300+

IMAGES FROM 15 PREMIER INSTITUTIONS

120

EXPERT REPRODUCTIONS CRAFTED

60

ORIGINAL PIECES BY SUNITA SHEKHAWAT

Located near the historic gates of Parkota, Jaipur · Shekhawat Haveli

Museum of Meenakari Heritage

ABOUT THE MUSEUM

The Gallery

An immersive journey through enamelling history

Sprawled over 2,200 sq.ft, the museum is located close to the historic gates of Parkota in Jaipur. Over 300 images were obtained from 15 premier museums, private collections, art galleries and auction houses worldwide.

These esteemed institutions include the British Museum, V&A Museum, Art Institute of Chicago, Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Al-Thani Collection, Aga Khan Museum, and The Hermitage.

This gallery is Sunita Shekhawat's humble tribute to the unparalleled legacy of India's enamelling tradition.

Detail of Meenakari Application

Garden of Eternal Spring · Museum of Meenakari Heritage

III

THE ART OF MEENAKARI

The World of Colour

360 hues. Centuries of mastery.

The world of meenakari pivots around the phenomena of colour. Meena enamel colour forms as a result of variation of temperature of the kiln and combination of metal oxides. Enameling is done three to four times to fix colour to perfection.

Sunita Shekhawat's journey started with a palette of 25 shades. Today, the Modern Meenakar works with 360 hues.

Ivory

Ferozi

Sabz

Kala

Lajvardi

Lal Zamin

Museum of Meenakari Heritage

The Art of Meenakari

Techniques of the Craft

Cloisonné

Enamel applied within wire compartments soldered to a metal base, creating precise colour divisions

Champlevé

Recesses carved into metal are filled with enamel, then fired and polished flush

Plique-à-jour

Translucent enamel suspended in metal framework without a backing, like miniature stained glass

Basse-taille

Engraved metal base covered with transparent enamel, allowing the pattern beneath to show through

En Ronde Bosse

Three-dimensional figures coated entirely in enamel; developed in 14th-century France

Ab-e-lehr

Gold base asymmetrically chased and engraved in wave forms with transparent enamel overlay

Museum of Meenakari Heritage

IV

THE ARTWORKS

Each Piece, A Story

Over 300 artefacts spanning centuries

Each piece displayed in this gallery tells a tale of evolution — of fervour, adoption, and refinement by local craftsmen, resulting in a style that is inherently Indian, yet globally relevant.

"The essence of the human hand transcends all notions of beauty."

— Sunita Shekhawat

Garden of Eternal Spring

THE ARTWORKS

01

Turban Ornament

(Turra)

GOLD · SEMIPRECIOUS STONES · PEARLS

EN RONDE BOSSE ENAMEL

REPRODUCTION: SUNITA SHEKHAWAT ATELIER

6 ARTISANS · 3 MONTHS

An exquisite example of En ronde bosse technique, also known as 'encrusted enamel.' Rendered in many hues of green — one being 'Tote ka par' — a translucent green that instils life in the ornament.

Tote ka par · Kachnar ki patti

Museum of Meenakari Heritage · Jaipur

THE ARTWORKS

Selected Works

Turban Ornament (Kalgi)

Deccan, early 18th century

Gold, enamel · National Museum, New Delhi

Reproduction: Sunita Shekhawat Atelier

Tiger-Head Bracelet (Kada)

Jaipur, mid-19th century

Gold, enamel, diamonds, rubies · Royal Collection Trust

Reproduction: Sunita Shekhawat Atelier

Box for Betel Leaves (Pandan)

Lucknow, late 18th century

Silver, enamel · Private Collection

Reproduction: Sunita Shekhawat Atelier

Museum of Meenakari Heritage

V

THE SHEKHAWAT FAMILY

A Tryst with Meenakari

Sunita Shekhawat · Founder & Creative Force

Born in the ancient town of Osian, near Jodhpur, the refinement of Sunita Shekhawat's aesthetic sensibility started at an early age. A childhood spent moving across the country aided her explorations of colour and form.

Moving to Jaipur — the bustling epicentre of coloured stones and fine jewellery — set in motion the journey towards building the House of Sunita Shekhawat.

"A visionary who has innovated with colours and patterns while retaining the sanctity of age-old crafts — the 'Modern Meenakar.'"

House of Sunita Shekhawat · Jaipur

THE SHEKHAWAT FAMILY

Crafting a Legacy

The House of Sunita Shekhawat

Niharika Shekhawat

Creative Director

She spearheads the brand's growth, strategy, collaborations and brand communication. Armed with business acumen and gemology expertise, Niharika works to define the brand's identity as contemporary pioneers of Indian jewellery-making.

Digvijay Shekhawat

Design Director

He leads on research, development and honing the brand offering. His expertise in gemology and acute understanding of craft enable him to innovate and trace the future of design at Sunita Shekhawat.

Made in Jaipur · House of Sunita Shekhawat

VI

Acknowledgements

"Bringing our mother's vision to life has been the biggest source of joy to us."

— Niharika and Digvijay

Vision & Inspiration

Sunita Shekhawat

Curator

Dr. Usha R. Balakrishnan

Architectural Design

Studio Lotus

Spatial Design & Artwork Consultancy

Siddhartha Das Studio

Historic Reproductions

Sunita Shekhawat Atelier

Photography — Ornaments

House of Sunita Shekhawat

Photography — Museum

Ishi Sitwala

Photography — Family

Kewal Chholak

Museum of Meenakari Heritage · Shekhawat Haveli · Jaipur

GLOSSARY

A Meenakari Vocabulary

The Language of Colour & Craft

Colours

Fakhtahi

dove grey blue

Ferozi

opaque turquoise

Gardan-e-taus

deep translucent blue, peacock-neck

Kachnar ki patti

translucent green, Indian parrot feathers

Koon-e-kabouter

"pigeon blood" translucent red; measure of enameller's skill

Lajvardi

opaque blue resembling lapis lazuli

Techniques

Ab-e-lehr

gold base chased in wave forms with transparent enamel

Boond tila

chased gold base with translucent enamelling

Ferozi zamin

engraved gold base, opaque turquoise enamel dominant

Lal zamin

chased gold base, red translucent enamel dominant

Nil zamin

chased gold base, blue translucent enamel dominant

Sabz zamin

chased gold base, green translucent enamel dominant

Garden of Eternal Spring · Museum of Meenakari Heritage

M M H

Garden of Eternal Spring is more than an exhibition; it is a tribute to the cultural richness and exceptional craftsmanship that defines this art form.

Museum of Meenakari Heritage

Shekhawat Haveli · Jaipur, India

House of Sunita Shekhawat

© 2024 House of Sunita Shekhawat