Craft Name: Lippan Art
Region: Kutch district, Gujarat
CRAFT
HISTORY
a. Traditional to the arid Kutch region for centuries; the craft is several centuries old, as communities that practiced it migrated around 400-700 years ago.Lippan art, also known as Mud and Mirror Work, originated centuries ago among the pastoral Rabari community of Kutch. Initially, it was a functional craft used to decorate and insulate the interior walls of village homes and bhungas. During royal patronage in Kutch, the craft gained aesthetic refinement and found its way into havelis and public structures.
WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE:
The craft beyond its aesthetic appeal was used to provide insulation, keeping the interiors cool during summer and warm during winter and the mirrors highlighted event the dimmest spaces.
Received a
GI tag in 2023
COLOURS
Ochres, whites, browns. Contemporary pieces used bright pigments of turquoise, red, green, black outlines
How much time does it take to make a product, and how many artisans are involved in making this craft?
A Lippan Art piece takes 2–7 days, involving 1–2 artisans in the process
MOTIFS
- Repeasting geometric shapes
- Stylized suns/flowers
- Peacock
- Fishes
- Simple human/animal forms
RAW MATERIAL
- Local Clay or mud
- Animal Dung blended with the clay
- Small polished mirrors or glass pieces
- Natural pigments or lime/gypsum for white highlights
- Coarse sand, fine straw or fibre added to reduce shrinkage
CRAFT MAKING PROCESS
HOW TO IDENTIFY GENUINE AND AUTHENTIC CRAFT:
- Real lippan shows grainy, earthy texture
- You’ll often see tiny cracks, unevenness, or clay lines
- Real mud panels are heavier than resin or MDF replicas
- Genuine lippan mirrors are pressed into wet clay, so they sit slightly inside the surface