Heritage Meets Modern Design in Frida’s Garden
As 2018 rushes towards the end, we decided to step back and ponder over the tones and styles that are dominating the world of fashion and lifestyle. Our second volume at 400 Things, 400 Gardens embodies the lush tropical yet mystical temper, that heavily influences the palettes of the creative community. From our expansive collection of things, inspired by maverick force Frida Kahlo’s Garden, we have chosen four products that will transfuse the exotic moods of the time into your home. These products, much like Frida’s own garden and portraits, effortlessly fuse traditional craft and heritage with modern design.
This Contemporary Wall Clock by Studio Saswata employs Jaipur’s Thatera craft, named after artisans of the same name. With every generation, the Thateras hand beat brass to create utilitarian pieces with slight changes in aesthetic. Today only 16 families are involved in preserving this tradition, their community workplace stretches across a kilometre and is called ‘Thateron ka Raasta.’ This minimalist art piece adds distinct accents to plain walls, and upholds an indigenous craft in the process.
Stackable Wooden Serving Bowls
A collector’s delight, Anantaya’s Stackable Wooden Serving Bowls imbibe stories of Indian culture and support the development of the Kharadi craft. These bowls are made from Rohida wood, a native tree of Rajasthan, India, by Kharadi craftsmen who trace the origins of this practice to Mughal times. Over many hundred years, they have acquired an inimitable art of accurate wood turning, making the thinnest turned bowls anywhere. Frida Kahlo filled her gardens, and in retrospect, her portraits with symbols of Mexican heritage to preserve the culture. The Kharadi craftsmen too, preserve an intrinsic tradition through these versatile and minimal bowls. Discover more about this process and find these beautifully handcrafted bowls on 400-things.com
Border Rectangular Cushion Cover
Bold geometry in a pop of colour, the ‘Border Rectangular Cushion Cover’ by Leah Singh is hand embroidered by artisans in Kashmir, India. They use a traditional technique of chain-stitch embroidery that involves a series of stitches using a hook called ‘aari’, creating patterns to fuse modern forms with handcrafted Indian textiles. The philosophy behind this contemporary cushion cover is to rejuvenate age-old crafts, by translating them into functional objects that fit well with diverse aesthetics. Find this heritage piece on 400-things.com
Frida’s painting ‘Fruits of the Earth’ depicts the fruits on her bedside table and reflects the vivid colours of the Mexican heritage that her art embodied boldly. Similarly Vilaasita’s Decorative Brass Plates are handmade by Tambat craftsmen. They preserve a disappearing culture through the Mathar Kaam technique of hand-beating brass for durability. The ‘khod karvai’, a dual component tool with a wooden seat and long cast iron shaper is used to create the concentric strokes, a skill mastered over several years. Use these one-of-a-kind plates to hold trinkets, or fruit and cheese.
Frida Kahlo’s portraits carry bold symbols of Mexican culture, they are prized possessions uplifting any contemporary living space. Similarly at 400 THINGS we want to break the binary between traditional crafts and contemporary living. Our things are specially curated to weave heritage and design into functional, everyday living. We endeavour to bring heritage, traditional crafts out of the museums and into your homes with 400 Gardens.
