This printed bookmark is inspired by kalamkari (meaning pen-worked), a technique achieved through both hand drawing and hand block printing. The flowing stems in our design harken to the hand drawn approach to printing, and the floral repeats pay homage to the geometric aspect of block printing. Hand printed and finished by artisans across Bangalore and Kolkata, every bookmark features subtle variations in the placement of the pattern that make it truly one-of-a-kind. Material: Cotton/linen blend Please note that as a unique, handmade bookmark, no two pieces are ever the same, and colors vary across monitors. Further, small imperfections are normal and reflect the handmade nature of this product. Spot clean only. This bookmark is inspired by kalamkari (meaning pen-worked), a technique achieved through both hand drawing and hand block printing. The hand drawn design has been historically achieved with a bamboo reed (kalam, meaning pen), and the block printed design is achieved with a hand chiseled teak, sycamore, or pear block that is pressed onto the fabric with considerable force. The earliest evidence of Indian block print were excavated cotton fragments of Indian block prints from various sites near Cairo in Egypt. The recorded history of block printing dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization, from 3500 B.C. to 1300 B.C. The flowing stems in our design harken to the hand drawn approach to printing, and the floral repeats pay homage to the geometric aspect of block printing. The art form is practiced in the Indian states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarpradesh, and Maharashtra.
