Best crafts of India from the capital city of New Delhi – Style your home with the royal culture of Delhi craft items like Zari zardozi, blue pottery, Nakkashi.
Do you know the best thing about Delhi – you don’t have to visit the museums to take a look at its local art and crafts. Yes, New Delhi, the capital city of India, is a confluence of many cultures. It is the city of art and culture. The crafts here are a legacy and a lifestyle. And they are very traditional yet fashionable – an excellent and popular fit in the world of modern art and crafts. You see, every dynasty – from the Tughlaqs, the Mughals, the English and the modern Indians – each era brought a unique style of handicrafts into the city.
Today, the rich legacies of art and craft still flourish within and outside the city. The traditional handicrafts from Delhi have gained popularity for decades. Nowadays, modern home interiors prefer to decor with the ethnic Delhi crafts – it celebrates a vintage look. The booming home decor industry is now utilizing every traditional art and work in a modern way. Although Delhi is famous for many handicrafts, a few crafts have achieved appreciation globally.
Crafts of Delhi, India
Do you know what makes Delhi a hub of crafts and decor skills? It is the skill of creating fantastic handicraft items with quality craftsmanship. The work of Delhi artisans is kept alive across generations and through centuries. The authentic and famous Persian designs did not happen overnight. And you can see the beauty and elegance in the artistic character of the crafts.
Here are our top picks from the famous crafts of Delhi:
a. Metal Nakkkashi
b. Papier-mache
c. Blue pottery
d. Sandalwood Carving
e. Furniture in carved wood
f. Bamboo crafts
g. Zari and Zardozi fabrics
Read more about the crafts of Delhi below
Home decor with Delhi crafts
Table décor
A plain boring table doesn’t excite anybody. If it is a dining table, you may not feel like dining on it. Table decor can add some colours to the ambience of your home. You can include some crafts made from Papier mache, Metalware-Naqqashi, Pottery, and clay items, Sandalwood carvings to make your tables look beautiful. You should understand these skills to incorporate them in a better way.
Papier-mache
Here is a very traditional and sustainable form of crafts. The artists use waste papers of all sorts, waste cloths to create beautiful table decor items such as pen stands, envelope boxes, paperweights, etc. First, the artisan begins by collecting waste papers, clothes in a huge drum and are left to soak water. Next, the soaked materials are then crushed and processed into items. Some biodegradable elements are added to preserve them from termites. The craft is a fitting example to repurpose waste.
Metalware
Delhi offers the metalcraft of Nakkashi – the art of engraving Japipuri motifs on metals. You can find Nakkashi on all types of art ware – utensils, and mainly tabletop items. These craft items are entirely handmade by the artisans, mostly in copper, brass and silver. The articles use beautiful intricate designs – they behold a certain luxurious charm to themselves.
Pottery and clay
Beautiful table lamps, water pots, flower pots made from terracotta pottery are the best decoratives you can take home. The traditional Persian designs made on these items increase their demand. Along with lamps and pots, attractive tea sets, cups and plates can also be found.
Image from Delhi blue pottery trust 
Sandalwood carvings
Sandalwood carving is a very promising job. It involves carving of intricate designs on large patterns that depict the artists’ skilful carvings. Sandalwood carving is a very delicate form of craft. The eye-catching sculptures boost the beauty of the entire home decor.
Furniture decor
Delhi is also known for its Wood inlay, Wood carving and Bamboo works. The skilled artisans of these fields produce beautiful furniture. Similar to sandalwood carving, artisans produce attractive decor items carved from wood. Wood inlay artisans use wood and other materials like acrylic and create traditional furniture and accessories. Wood inlay and woodworks began during the time of Mughals. The Mughals made Persian inlay workers stay in Delhi and produce beautiful wood carved accessories. Hence these wood inlays have Persian influenced designs.
Bamboo work
Chair and stools made using the bamboo strands are high in demand. Delhi is known for its bamboo works. These Handwoven bamboo accessories and furniture enhance the beauty of your home by adding a touch of traditional art.
Home linen
Delhi is one of the best places for the royal and stunning Zari Zardozi work. You may have seen this embroidery craft in wedding costumes. Zari is also a fabulous addition to home decor – as cushions, table cloths. You see, Zardosi work on luxurious fabrics and cloths is in practice at Delhi for a long time. As a traditional craft, it has been in demand for centuries. Artisans mainly use Gold Zari Zardosi; nowadays you can also find copper, silver and antique gold look. You can use the Zari Zardosi work to add some shine and glitter into your home interiors for a plush and splendid appeal.
