Paintings and antiques in India
Most Tibetan thangkas (Buddhist religious paintings mounted on brocaded silk) are mass produced (usually in Nepal) and mod¬ern, whatever the seller says, but even the cheapest boast the dense Buddhist symbol¬ism inherent in the form. You’ll find them in the north, where there are Tibetan commu¬nities, and a little investigation of the range of styles is well worthwhile. Leaf skeleton paintings, originally from southern Kerala, are much cheaper and widely available, though they too vary some¬what in quality. Miniatures in the traditional style, often masquerading as antiques, are common in tourist shops too, but subject to the same provisos as thangkas.
Art and antiques are another field where only experts should look for an investment, but where a souvenir hunter is very likely to find a bargain. Silk and cotton paintings are popular in Rajasthan and the north, but vary vastly in quality, so check out a few before you buy. The village of Kishangarh (Rajasthan) is known for them; they are also sold in Udaipur. The striking black lines and primary colours depicting mythological and religious themes easily distinguish Madhuvani paintings, also known as Mlthila paintings after the district in Bihar where they are made. The folk art, which makes ideal gifts, first started as decoration on huts but is now marketed widely through emporia, using handmade paper.
When it comes to antiques, if they really are genuine - and, frankly, that is unlikely - you’ll need a licence to export them, which is virtually impossible to get. The same applies to “art treasures". Age and status can be verified by the Archaeological Survey of India, Janpath, New Delhi 110011 ft)011/301 8614); Sion Fort, Sion, Mumbai 400022 (B 022/407 1102); 4th floor, Block DF, Sector 1, Salt Lake City, Calcutta 700064 p> 033/334 3775); Fort St George, Chennai 600009 @> 044/560396); Old Town, Bhubaneshwar 751002, Orissa (S0674/430590); 5th floor, F Wing, Kendriya j Sadan, 17th Main Rd, Keramangala, Bangalore 560034 (3 080/553 7348). These i offices also issue export clearance certificates,