Indian Hundu Palm Leaf Etching

Description

In a beautiful carved frame mounted on red silk. Depicting Hindu Gods.The frame measures 14 1.4" by 12 1/4".
Since the art form is done on palm leaves, they are first collected in the same texture, color and appearance.  They are then coated with a mix of turmeric and neem for their anti fungal and anti bacterial properties to save the leaf from getting destroyed to fungus or insects eating them up. For every 50 leaves, 100 grams of turmeric coupled with neem leaves are soaked in water.  The turmeric gives it the yellow/greenish base tone. The coated palm leaves are then left to dry in the sun
An iron nib stylus, called “lekhani” or the tool for writing, is used to engrave and etch on the dried palm leaves.  The etched portions are cut out and are filled with colors. Mostly black is the color used, but we can see greens and yellows, reds and whites as well which are applied by a brush.  Black gives the palm etching a natural look The black color used comes from soot that is collected from burning at nights, and mixed with tree sap and water to give the right thick consistency.  The excess black is removed quickly by washing, so that the leaf does not absorb all the unwanted color.