{"id":4081,"date":"2020-12-07T22:21:50","date_gmt":"2020-12-07T16:51:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/museumofmaterialmemory.com\/?p=4081"},"modified":"2020-12-08T11:01:03","modified_gmt":"2020-12-08T05:31:03","slug":"the-lace-crimper-from-rajasthan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/museumofmaterialmemory.com\/the-lace-crimper-from-rajasthan\/","title":{"rendered":"The Lace Crimper from Rajasthan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY NIHARIKA JOSHI
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the small room between our Dadi\u2019s bedroom and painting studio, there are two wooden almirahs<\/em> with glass and wood shutters. Many years ago Dadi had white cloth hung on the inside of the glass, hiding contents of the cupboard away, except for an unusual glimpse once in a while. The wooden shelves, neatly lined with photo frames, books, art materials, files and boxes collected over the years have often stirred my curiosity on visits to Dadi\u2019s studio. One evening, I walked in to find the cupboards open, and a sea of sundry items down for some cleaning. Of these a small ,peculiar brass object on the back shelf, now revealed by the emptied cupboard drew my attention. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Holding the brass instrument at its wooden base delicately, like a piece of jewellery, Dadi said \u201cYeh kya hai, pata hai kya? Kabhi dekhi hai (aisi machine)? Meri Dadiji ki hai\u201d.<\/em> This object, unfamiliar and unknown to me, seemed to be less machine and more a delicate piece of craftsmanship, from a time long gone. Two upright brass legs, curved like a ballerina in pli\u00e9 hold up a pair of brass rollers between them on top , joined to a protruding lever. Holding the lever between her forefinger and thumb, Dadi turned the gears clockwise. Slowly at first, and then as if turning away at years of disuse, faster with each rotation. The two spiked brass rollers turn together with ease and precision, gently shaking the brass legs sometimes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n