Art Treasures of Rajasthan (Volume 1)

This volume includes 103 collections registered under Antiquity and Art Treasures Act 1972 with Jaipur Office. The Act was passed by the Government of India, which a purpose to prepare record of objects of artistic importance and antiquarian interest. Archeological Survey of India was entrusted with implementation of this Act with the help of other governmental agencies. It was decided to start with listing private and personal collections of antiquarian value. Collections were acquired by their owners through different sources by inheritance, purchase and gift. Large number of artifacts came as part of family property. In case of division in a family, property divides and so does the art treasure; similar is the case of change of hands through gift or sale/purchase. These cases are also mentioned here. Coming from different sources, nature of collections varies, not only in medium but also in subject, style and age, for example sculptures from Abaneri are of the 8”c. while a stone Garuda is of the 19th; similarly there are paintings ranging from superior Mughal work to folk miniature executed in Bundelkhand (MP) or Rajasthan. To present all these in one volume, though a difficult task, is attempted here. This is the first volume containing details of registered objects. For all connoisseurs it is a feast to the mind and the eyes. To art historians, these will provide fresh material for looking into past.