Old Designs by Motifs

Design Resource

Pethapur Block Making

Documentation of the fine craft of Block Making

Old Designs by Motifs

Perhaps a unique thing about Pethapur as a blockmaking center is that over the centuries, its craftsmen have both designed and carved blocks of varying styles and motifs ranging from simple buttis to landscapes that seem to have been painted by hand. As found in the collections and the loosely maintained archives of the craftsmen, older designs perfectly capture why Pethapur was known to be the best.

These designs are characterized by their razor-thin outlines, Gad and Dattla blocks that sit perfectly with the Rekh blocks' design, and geometrical complexity that would have demanded the utmost attention from the Tipaiya, a person who used to responsible solely for the etching for the block. Some of these designs are represented below.

'Ambi' or 'Keri':

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Animal Motifs:

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Some interesting animal motifs rare for the present day. Figure (middle) seems to have been inspired by Western traditions whereas the Figure is distinctly in the Patola sari style of Patan.

Butta/Butti Motifs: