South Asia
Kanthas of Bengal
Kanthas are vibrant patchworked quilts, recycled out of layers of used and discarded fabric, made by rural women in the eastern part of India. They...
Coconut crafts
Before the introduction of import and export, Maldivian people led a self-sufficient lifestyle and the coconut tree was a major part of the local...
Wooden sculptures and carved furniture
Decorative wood carving has been an essential part of Sri Lankan architecture as evident in sixteenth to eighteenth century historic buildings around Kandy. Carving...
Stone sculpture
Stone carving is relatively a less popular art among contemporary Sri Lankan crafts, although it had been widely practiced and had reached the highest...
Sesat (fan)
Making of sesat, a large colourful circular fan mounted to a long decorated wooden pole used as a ceremonial sun-shade, is a unique craft...
Pottery
Pottery is the most widespread craft in Sri Lanka due to the utility value of clay-pots as basic household objects. Potters who traditionally occupied...
Metal crafts
Sri Lanka’s metal-based crafts include blacksmithing, bronze casting, brass casting and carving, and gold and silversmithing. Blacksmithing has been a central craft as people...
Handloom textiles
Spinning and weaving is the oldest craft in Sri Lanka. According to legend, it is dated to sixth century BC. It reached the level...
Fibre crafts
Bamboo, rattan, rush, leaves of palms and pandanus, and plant fibers are used to make a variety of utility and ornamental items by Sri...
Coconut fibre and yarn making
The fibre extracted from the husk of the coconut known as coir has been the raw material for making yarns and ropes in Sri...
Textiles
The four provinces of Pakistan are extremely rich in the textile tradition. Cotton processing dates back to the sixth millennium BC, as evidenced by...
Naqaashi
Naqaashi is the ancient art of painting on buildings, woodwork, camel skin and pottery centred in the ancient city of Multan, Punjab. Originating from...