Nirmal paintings and Wooden Handicrafts are well-known all over the world. The crafts are named after the town of Nirmal in Telangana. The craft persons are known as Naqashis who by custom paint scenes from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, as well as from Mughal and Kangra miniatures. The artists use original colors from the gum, minerals, and available herbs. 

The craftspersons of Nirmal originally used gold color from the juices of herbs. Many Nirmal paintings are made out of gold on dark backgrounds. Nirmal art includes items like jewelry and ornament boxes made of Poniki wood, food tray covers, playing cards, wall plaques, furniture, screens, panels, bowls, lamp stands trinket boxes, ashtrays, and many more.

Nirmal craftsman use Poniki wood is used for small products and teak wood for larger items. Over the last few years, Nirmal’s craft has evolved to cater to the modern world with their craft. 

Nirmal paintings depicting Moghul miniatures are crafted exquisitely on soft white wood, called Ponniki. The wood is strengthened with different coatings of pipeclay, fine muslin, and tamarind seed paste before they are painted.

Origin of Nirmal Paintings

The evolution of the Nirmal art and craft roots back to the Kakatiya dynasty. Nirmal craft is a form of lacquered woodwork born in Nirmal town. This art has remained an attraction through all these centuries. The motifs used are frescoes from Ellora and Ajanta, Mughal miniatures, and floral designs.

Apart from the wall hangings, Nirmal craftsmen also craft exquisite lacquered furniture, large screens, boxes, bowls, trays, toys, and pictures.

Techniques of Nirmal Paintings

The preparation technique of Nirmal paintings involves lacquering the wood surface and then painting the precise design. The conventional designs are first drawn with chalk on any composition board or smoothened wood. These are then painted in bright and flat colors and touched up with gold and finally glazed.

The specialty of the Nirmal arts and crafts is that they use organic colors derived from herbs, gums, and minerals. The gold which is found in the majority of Nirmal works is extracted from herbal juices. 

The Painting of Mughal miniatures on white wood Poniki is one of the most popular types. Another interesting thing about the Nirmal arts is as the age of the items increases, they acquire an exquisite muted glow that is simply impeccable.

Nirmal Toys

Nirmal toys are made out of softwood called Poniki found in Adilabad forests. 

The Nirmal toys are then painted with the extracts of herbs which provide them with a golden sheen. The designs are generally inspired by human occupations, fruits, and animals. 

Kondapalli toys and Nirmal toys

There are many similarities between the Kondapally and Nirmal toys as they are made from the same kind of wood during their manufacturing process. One striking difference between them is that the Kondapally toys are generally coated with plain watercolors. Whereas the Nirmal toys are particularly embellished with oil paints. Both the Kondapalli toys and Nirmal toys are treated with special tamarind paste in the primary stage before they are painted.

The prominent difference between these is that after treatment, the complete Nirmal toy is covered with fabric. While the Kondapalli toys are covered with lime blue after the treatment.

Where to Shop

• Lepakshi Handicraft Emporium situated in Gun Foundry of Hyderabad and Minerva Complex on S.D. Road of Secunderabad. 
• Kalanjali Arts and Crafts Nampally in Hyderabad
• The crafts museum Calcutta emporium which lies behind the Lepakshi gun foundry in Hyderabad
• Central cottage industries emporium in Minerva complex, on S.D. road in Secunderabad.
• Cauvery Karnataka State Arts and Crafts emporium which lies in the seven hills plaza on S.D. Road Secunderabad.
• Sheela’s Indian Handicraft specialist in Lal Bahadur Stadium in Hyderabad.

Also visit: All you need to know about Cheriyal Scroll Painting

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