Mughal Miniature Wall Plate by Master Artisan Ravi Kumawat
SIZE: 7 inch (diameter)MEDIUM: Natural Colours on Handmade plate mounted on a Wooden base.
MAKING OF THE PLATE: The base plate is a cotton canvas pasted onto a moulded plate using tamarind paste. A mixture of chalk powder and multani mitti is applied, dried, and smoothened with stone for a polished canvas. To prevent insect damage we use crushed neem leaves. With multiple layers of coating, drying, and finishing, the complete plate-making process spans three full days.
NATURAL COLOURS: This hand-painted plate uses traditional natural pigments. The soft green background comes from Hara Bhata mixed with white made from limestone. The bird’s red head is Hinglu/Sindur, its golden-yellow body is Ramraj/Pili Mitti with white, and its wings blend Hinglu and Ramraj. The beak is grey (black + white), the tree bark mixes black, red, and yellow, and the leaves are Hara Bhata. A gold border adds the final touch. Each color undergoes a meticulous elaborate process of sourcing natural materials, cleaning, crushing, mixing with water and adding adhesives.
The Flameback’s Song
In a quiet forest, a Black-rumped Flameback tapped its song on an old tree, its fiery crest glowing like embers- a brief, beautiful moment in nature. Inspired by this scene, master artisan Ravi Kumawat ji brought it to life on a handcrafted plate with a wooden base. Painted in the Mughal Miniature style, the artwork captures the bird’s vibrant spirit and the forest’s quiet magic. Each stroke holds the rhythm of nature, preserving that special moment in timeless, delicate detail.
