Posts by thegildedstory
The Fine Art of Manuscript Gilding in India: A Closer Look
Collage from an illustrated manuscript of Padmavat from c. 1750 CE and a painting of Princess Padmavati ca. 1765 Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris
Source Credits :Scroll.in
The History of manuscript gilding in India dates back to the 4th century CE, during the Gupta period. This technique initially involved hammering thin sheets...
The Story of Letters: A Journey through the Sands of Time
Egyptians Hieroglyphics
Imagine not being able to communicate your thoughts and express ideas clearly. Writing is one such form that has helped human civilization preserve history and express itself clearly since time immemorial. From ancient civilizations to the digital age today, the story of writing is a fascinating journey.
The earliest forms...
Take the Carats Home!
Gold Leaf Shade Card (Image Courtesy: www.goldleafsupplies.co.uk)
One of the most common questions that we receive is - do you really use real gold leaves in your artwork?
To answer that question, let’s first see what are the types of gold that are commonly available. To name a few, we have...
Worth the Weight in Gold?
Transcending race, religion, and other human constraints, Gold is one common denominator that has survived the test of time and repetitively proved its mettle.
An eternal symbol of beauty and sophistication. Be it jewellery, idols, monuments, or embellishments, this precious metal is worshipped in all walks of civilization.
Its seductive allure has...
Golden Glyphs- Writing History in Gold
In a world dominated by digital communication, the allure of ancient art forms often gets overlooked. Although gilding has its own allure particularly, I see raised gilding is something that fascinates everyone, but that is just not what we can do with gold.
Treaty between Calicut and the Dutch inscribed in...
Out With The Old, In With The New!
Many of you may have noticed my temporary absence and here’s the reason why! I'm thrilled to share what I was up to!
It was a transformative six months. Like most changes, the transition wasn’t an easy one. It required perseverance, creativity, and a willingness to learn, all that I had...
Endangered or Evolving- Art of Calligraphy or Beautiful Writing!
In today’s digital age, where emails and text messages dominate conversations, there is something truly special about receiving a handwritten letter or document.
Before the era of typewriters and MS Word, people were quite dependent on the written word. A casual script for notes and simple bookkeeping and a formal one...
Unconventional Elegance: Left-Handed Calligraphy
If you’re a left-handed individual and ever wondered if calligraphy was for you then this might be an interesting read for you.
Approximately 10% of the world’s population is left-handed, while the majority (around 90%) is right-handed. The preference for using one hand over the other, is determined by our brain specifically the...
Shrinking the Canvas: A Journey into Miniature Painting and Gilding
In the wide world of art, where size often matters, miniature painting and gilding stand as unique and captivating art forms. With their intricate details and meticulous craftsmanship, miniatures have the power to transport viewers into a world of wonder and awe.
The art of miniature painting has a rich and...
Inkspiration – The Science Behind Ink
When you think of a calligrapher, what comes to your mind- A person leaning over a desk with a paper, pen, and ink right! Let’s talk about ink today.
Ink has played a pivotal role in human communication since ancient times. From the earliest cave paintings to the intricate manuscripts of...
From Scribbles to Scripts: Tracing the history of Handwriting to Calligraphy
Calligraphy and handwriting, or rather good handwriting are often used interchangeably, but they are actually two distinct forms of writing that serve different purposes. In layman’s terms, calligraphy is a decorative writing style that uses special pens or brushes to create stylized, intricate letterforms with a consistent thickness and flow...
Keeping the Art of Calligraphy Alive
It was not too long ago that I ventured into the World of Calligraphy and when I told people I am a Calligrapher, they would ask what that meant, and to be honest, like most people, I thought it was a deliberate art of practicing good writing which is not...
