Tikuli Art: The Glass Painting Craft of Bihar

Tikuli art Bihar, also known as the Tikuli craft or Tikuli painting of Patna, is a decorative painting tradition of Bihar that takes its name from the ornamental tikuli, the small bindi worn on the forehead. Historically, the craft was the making of these ornamental tikuli on glass, decorated with gold and bright colour, worn as adornment. In time the technique was revived and reshaped as a decorative painting form, worked on glass and hardboard, depicting figures of Krishna, scenes in the Mithila style and court, village and festive subjects in vivid enamel colours. Revived as a cottage craft that has given work to many local women, Tikuli art stands among the painted traditions of eastern India alongside such forms as Madhubani painting, and this account keeps to broadly established history where particular dates and details are uncertain.

Key Takeaways

• Tikuli art Bihar is a decorative painting craft of Patna named after the ornamental tikuli, or forehead bindi.
• Historically it was the making of ornamental tikuli on glass, decorated with gold and bright colour.
• It was later revived and reshaped as a decorative painting form worked on glass and hardboard.
• Tikuli paintings depict Krishna, Mithila-style scenes and court, village and festive subjects in bright enamel colours.
• The revived craft is a cottage tradition that has given work to many local women.
• Tikuli art is associated especially with the city of Patna in Bihar.

Read on for the history, culture, and legacy in detail.

Quick Facts

What Is Tikuli Art?

Tikuli art is a decorative painting craft of Bihar that takes its name from the tikuli, the small ornamental bindi traditionally worn on the forehead. In its historical form, the craft was the making of these ornamental tikuli on glass, decorated with gold and bright colours, worn as a piece of adornment. Over time, the skills and spirit of the craft were revived and turned to a new purpose, producing decorative paintings on glass and hardboard in vivid enamel colours. The modern Tikuli painting depicts figures of Krishna, scenes rendered in the Mithila manner, and subjects drawn from court, village and festive life, worked in bright, glossy hues. The craft is especially associated with the city of Patna. Distinguished by its brilliant colour and fine detail, Tikuli art bridges the ornamental tradition of the bindi and the decorative painting of today. It stands as a distinctive painted craft of Bihar, valued both for its beauty and for its revival as a source of livelihood.

Where Is Tikuli Art Made?

Tikuli art is made chiefly in the city of Patna, the capital of Bihar, with which the craft has long been associated in its historical and its revived forms. Patna, an ancient and historic city on the Ganges, has been a centre of culture and craft in the region, and the Tikuli tradition took root there. The craft is practised in workshops and households within and around the city, where artisans carry out the painting and decoration. The association of Tikuli art with Patna is central to its identity, and the revived craft has been promoted as a distinctive product of the city and the wider state. The setting of Patna, within the rich cultural landscape of Bihar, connects the craft to the broader artistic traditions of the region, including the painted heritage of Mithila to the north. The location of the craft in and around Patna remains important to its character and to the livelihoods it supports.

What Does the Name Tikuli Mean?

The name Tikuli comes from the tikuli, the small ornamental bindi or mark traditionally worn on the forehead, which was the original product of the craft. In its historical form, the craft centred on making these decorative tikuli on glass, adorned with gold and bright colour, to be worn as adornment. The bindi, a mark of ornament and tradition in the region, thus gave the craft both its name and its early purpose. As the tradition was revived and turned toward decorative painting, the name Tikuli was carried over to describe the painted work, even though the modern products are panels, wall pieces and other items rather than bindis. In this way the name preserves the memory of the craft’s origins in the making of ornamental tikuli. Understanding the meaning of the name helps to explain the history of the tradition. The name Tikuli links the modern decorative painting to its roots in the ornamental bindi of Bihar.

What Was the Historical Tikuli Craft?

The historical Tikuli craft was the making of ornamental tikuli, or bindis, on glass, decorated with gold and bright colours, worn as adornment on the forehead. According to the broadly held account, artisans of the region worked fine designs in gold and colour on small pieces of glass to produce these decorative tikuli, which were prized as items of personal ornament. The craft was a specialised and delicate tradition, calling for skill in working gold and colour on the small glass surface. Over time, changing tastes and the availability of mass-produced bindis caused this historical form of the craft to decline. The precise early history belongs to tradition rather than to exact record and is treated here with appropriate care. What is clear is that the ornamental tikuli on glass was the original expression of the craft. This historical tradition provided the foundation of skill and name on which the later revival of Tikuli art was built.

How Was Tikuli Art Revived?

Tikuli art was revived when the skills and name of the historical bindi-making craft were turned toward a new form of decorative painting, carried out on glass and hardboard in bright enamel colours. According to the broadly recorded account, as the old trade in ornamental tikuli declined, efforts were made to preserve the craft by adapting it to produce decorative paintings and household items rather than bindis. This revival reshaped the tradition into a painted craft depicting figures, scenes and patterns in vivid colour, suited to modern tastes and markets. The revival also opened the craft as a source of livelihood, in particular for local women who took up the painting. The details of the revival belong to the recent history of the craft and are treated here in general terms. What is clear is that the revival transformed Tikuli from an ornamental bindi craft into a decorative painting tradition. This revival is central to the modern identity of Tikuli art in Bihar.

What Materials and Surfaces Are Used?

Tikuli art is worked on surfaces such as glass and hardboard, painted with bright enamel and other glossy colours, while the historical craft used glass decorated with gold. In the revived form, artisans prepare a smooth surface, often of hardboard or glass, on which they paint their designs in vivid, saturated hues that give the work its characteristic brilliance. Fine brushes are used to render figures, scenes and ornamental detail, and the glossy finish lends the paintings a jewel-like quality. The choice of durable surfaces suits the decorative panels, wall pieces and household items that the modern craft produces. In the older tradition, the gold-decorated glass tikuli called for materials and skills suited to small-scale ornament. The shift in materials and surfaces reflects the craft’s transformation from bindi-making to decorative painting. The bright paints and smooth surfaces of the revived craft are central to its distinctive look. These materials allow Tikuli art to combine fine detail with vivid, lasting colour.

What Subjects Does Tikuli Painting Depict?

Tikuli painting depicts a range of subjects, including figures of Krishna, scenes rendered in the Mithila style, and subjects drawn from court, village and festive life. Religious and devotional themes, especially those associated with Krishna, are treated with reverence and rendered in bright colour and fine detail. Scenes in the manner of the Mithila painting tradition of the region bring the influence of that celebrated folk art into the Tikuli work. Court and festival scenes, village life, dancers, musicians and processions provide further subjects, lending the paintings a lively, narrative character. Floral and ornamental patterns frame and fill the compositions. This range of subjects allows the craft to serve both devotional and decorative purposes and to appeal to a variety of buyers. The choice of themes connects Tikuli art to the wider cultural and artistic traditions of Bihar. The depiction of Krishna, Mithila-style scenes and festive life defines the subject matter of modern Tikuli painting.

How Is Tikuli Art Made?

Tikuli art is made by painting designs in bright enamel colours onto a prepared surface of glass or hardboard, building up figures, scenes and ornament with fine brushes. The artisan first prepares and smooths the surface, then draws or lays out the composition before applying the colours. Working with care and a steady hand, the painter fills in the figures, scenes and patterns in vivid hues, adding fine detail to faces, garments, borders and backgrounds. The glossy paints give the finished work its jewel-like brilliance, and the surface may be sealed or finished to protect and enhance the colours. Larger panels and wall pieces call for more elaborate compositions, while smaller items such as coasters and trays carry simpler designs. The work is done largely by hand and depends on the painter’s skill in colour and detail. This painstaking handwork gives each piece its individual character. The technique of fine painting in bright colour is central to the craft of Tikuli art.

What Products Are Made in Tikuli Art?

The revived Tikuli craft produces a range of decorative and useful products, including wall panels, framed pictures, trays, coasters, table mats, boxes and other household and gift items. Decorative panels and framed paintings, worked with figures, scenes and ornament in bright colour, are among the most characteristic products, suited to display in homes and offices. Smaller items such as coasters, trays, table mats and boxes carry the Tikuli style into everyday use and make popular gifts and souvenirs. This range allows the craft to reach a variety of buyers and markets, from those seeking fine decorative art to those wanting attractive handmade goods. The adaptation of the painting to such products has been important to the revival and commercial life of the craft. The variety of goods reflects the versatility of the Tikuli technique. From wall panels to small gifts, the products of Tikuli art carry the bright, glossy character of the tradition into modern settings.

Who Practises Tikuli Art Today?

Tikuli art today is practised by artisans in and around Patna, and the revived craft has notably given work to many local women who have taken up the painting as a livelihood. The revival of the tradition was closely tied to efforts to provide employment and income through the craft, and women in particular have become important practitioners, working from households and workshops. In this way the craft has served not only as an artistic tradition but also as a means of economic support for its practitioners. The skills are learned and passed on through training and practice, sustaining the tradition in its modern form. The involvement of women in the craft is one of the distinctive features of the revived Tikuli art. The community of practitioners carries forward both the techniques and the livelihoods associated with the craft. The artisans, many of them women, are the bearers of the revived Tikuli tradition in Bihar.

How Is Tikuli Art Related to Mithila Painting?

Tikuli art is related to Mithila painting in that the revived craft draws on the styles and subjects of that celebrated folk art of the Mithila region of Bihar, rendering some of its scenes in the Tikuli manner. Mithila painting, also known as Madhubani painting, is a famous tradition of the region, known for its distinctive figures, motifs and bold use of line and colour. The Tikuli painters have drawn inspiration from this heritage, depicting Mithila-style scenes and motifs in their bright enamel work. In this way the two traditions of Bihar are connected, with Tikuli art reflecting the wider painted heritage of the region. The relationship enriches the subject matter and style of Tikuli painting. It also places the craft within the broader family of Bihar’s folk and decorative arts. The link between Tikuli art and Mithila painting reflects the shared artistic culture of the region and the ways in which its traditions influence one another.

What Is the Significance of Colour in Tikuli Art?

The significance of colour in Tikuli art lies in the brilliant, glossy enamel hues that give the work its distinctive and immediately recognisable character. The craft is known for its bright, saturated colours, applied in a way that lends the figures, scenes and ornament a jewel-like quality. This vivid palette suits the decorative purpose of the work and gives the paintings their festive, eye-catching appeal. In the historical craft, bright colour and gold adorned the ornamental tikuli on glass, and this love of brilliance carried over into the revived painting tradition. The careful use of colour, combined with fine detail, is central to the beauty of a finished piece. The glossy finish enhances the richness of the hues. Colour is therefore not merely decorative but essential to the identity of the craft. The brilliant, glossy colour of Tikuli art is among its defining features and a key to its appeal as a decorative tradition of Bihar.

How Is Tikuli Art Promoted and Sold?

Tikuli art is promoted and sold through craft emporia, exhibitions, fairs and, increasingly, online channels, as well as directly by the artisans and the organisations that support them. State and national handicraft bodies, cooperatives and promoters have helped to bring the revived craft to wider markets, presenting its panels, pictures and household items to buyers within Bihar and across India. Exhibitions and craft fairs provide important opportunities to display and sell the work and to raise awareness of the tradition. The appeal of the bright, handmade paintings to buyers seeking distinctive decorative goods and gifts has supported demand. In recent times, online sales have extended the reach of the craft beyond its home region. This promotion helps sustain the livelihoods of the artisans, many of them women. The combination of official support, exhibitions and new markets keeps Tikuli art visible and commercially viable. Marketing has been central to the survival and growth of the revived craft.

What Challenges Does Tikuli Art Face?

Tikuli art faces challenges common to revived and traditional crafts, including maintaining demand, securing fair markets and ensuring that artisans receive adequate returns for their painstaking handwork. As a revived craft, Tikuli depends on continued promotion and awareness to find buyers, and shifts in taste or market conditions can affect the livelihoods of its practitioners. Competition from cheaper mass-produced decorative goods can make it harder for the handmade work to compete on price. Sustaining the supply of materials and maintaining quality are further concerns. Ensuring that the many women and other artisans who practise the craft are fairly rewarded is important to its future. Support through official promotion, cooperatives, training and access to markets helps address some of these difficulties. Encouraging new artisans to take up the tradition is also essential. Meeting these challenges is key to sustaining the craft. The continued revival of Tikuli art depends on support, fair markets and the dedication of its practitioners.

Tikuli Art Today

Tikuli art today is a living, revived craft of Bihar, its bright enamel paintings produced in and around Patna and valued both as decorative art and as a source of livelihood, especially for local women. From its origins in the making of ornamental tikuli on glass, the tradition has been reshaped into a painting craft that depicts Krishna, Mithila-style scenes and festive life on panels, pictures and household items. Promotion through emporia, exhibitions, fairs and online markets has helped to sustain and extend the craft. For students of Indian handicrafts, Tikuli art offers a striking example of a historical craft revived and adapted for the present day. Its legacy lies both in its bright, glossy paintings and in the livelihoods it has provided to its artisans. The craft continues to carry the name and spirit of the old ornamental tikuli into a new decorative form. Tikuli art endures as a distinctive painted tradition of Patna and of Bihar.

Sources & Further Reading

• Ministry of Culture, Government of India (indiaculture.gov.in).
• Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India (handicrafts.nic.in).
• Department of Tourism, Government of Bihar (tourism.bihar.gov.in).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tikuli art?

Tikuli art is a decorative painting craft of Patna in Bihar, named after the ornamental tikuli, or forehead bindi. Historically the making of ornamental tikuli on glass decorated with gold, it was later revived as a painting form on glass and hardboard, depicting Krishna, Mithila-style and festive scenes in bright enamel colours.

Where is Tikuli art made?

Tikuli art is made chiefly in the city of Patna, the capital of Bihar, with which the craft has long been associated in both its historical and its revived forms. It is practised in workshops and households in and around the city.

What does the name Tikuli mean?

The name Tikuli comes from the tikuli, the small ornamental bindi traditionally worn on the forehead, which was the original product of the craft. The name was carried over to the revived decorative painting even though the modern products are panels and household items rather than bindis.

How was Tikuli art revived?

Tikuli art was revived when the skills and name of the historical bindi-making craft were turned toward decorative painting on glass and hardboard in bright enamel colours. The revival reshaped the tradition into a painted craft and opened it as a source of livelihood, especially for local women.

What does Tikuli painting depict?

Tikuli painting depicts figures of Krishna, scenes rendered in the Mithila style, and subjects drawn from court, village and festive life, worked in bright enamel colours. Devotional themes are treated with reverence, and floral and ornamental patterns frame the compositions.

Who practises Tikuli art today?

Tikuli art today is practised by artisans in and around Patna, and the revived craft has notably given work to many local women who have taken up the painting as a livelihood. The skills are learned and passed on through training and practice.