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CRAFTED IN ODISHA,
DESIGNED FOR THE WORLD

The living legacy of Odisha

For over 3,000 years, Odisha has been a cradle of artistic excellence. From the temple sculptures of Konark to the intricate silver work of Cuttack, from tribal weaving traditions to contemporary ceramic innovations — this land breathes creativity. The state's crafts are not relics of the past, but living traditions that adapt, evolve, and inspire.

30+
DISTRICTS

with craft clusters

50,000+
ARTISANS

across crafts

15+
GI TAG

recognised crafts

3000+
YEARS

of heritage

A journey through time

The evolution of Odisha's crafts mirrors the history of civilization itself — from ancient pottery to contemporary design

3000 BCE — The Dawn of Clay and Earth

Long before kingdoms rose or trade winds carried ships to Odisha’s shores, the people of this coastal land shaped earth into form. Early pottery fragments unearthed in sites like Golbai Sasan and Sankarjang reveal a civilization that molded daily life from river clay — bowls for grain, urns for rituals, and terracotta figurines that bridged the mortal and divine. Fired under open skies, these humble vessels bore the first imprints of design in Odisha — rhythmic lines, sun patterns, and impressions from shells. What began as survival slowly turned into expression — the clay became a storyteller of early Odia life, a legacy that still breathes through the hands of potters today.

500 BCE — The Age of Metal and Fire

As society advanced from agrarian settlements to structured communities, the mastery of metal marked a new epoch. Bell metal and bronze emerged not merely as utilitarian materials but as sacred mediums of sound and form. The foundries of western Odisha, especially around Kantilo and Sonepur, perfected the lost-wax technique — dhokra, a method that transformed molten metal into ritual lamps, animal forms, and votive idols. Each casting was an act of reverence, echoing ancient Vedic symbolism and tribal belief. By 500 BCE, the alchemy of fire and alloy became a signature of Odisha’s craftsmanship — durable, spiritual, and deeply human.

300 CE — Threads of Silver from Distant Shores

When Odisha’s ports like Tamralipti and Palur thrived as maritime gateways, foreign influences arrived with the tide. Among them came the intricate art of filigree — tarakasi, the weaving of pure silver into lace-like wonders. Historians trace its roots to ancient Persian and Mediterranean crafts, brought to Kalinga through traders and artisans who found a home in Cuttack. Over centuries, Odia craftsmen refined the technique with unmatched finesse, coiling silver threads into motifs of flowers, peacocks, and temple spires. By 300 CE, silver filigree had become a mark of Odia artistry — delicate yet enduring, an art that mirrored the shimmer of the Mahanadi under the afternoon sun.

1200 CE — The Temple Age of Stone and Spirit

The 12th century was Odisha’s golden age of temple architecture — when devotion found permanence in stone. From the towering deul of the Lingaraja to the celestial chariot of the Sun Temple at Konark, artisans translated faith into geometry. Every chisel stroke carved gods, dancers, and stories onto laterite and chlorite, while metal sculptors adorned sanctums with asthadhatu icons and ritual instruments. The temple workshops of Bhubaneswar and Puri became living schools of design — their rhythms echoing in every art form that followed. This was the age when craft and spirituality merged seamlessly, defining the aesthetic DNA of Odisha for centuries.

Present — Craft in a Contemporary World

In the 21st century, Odisha’s crafts continue to evolve — balancing heritage and innovation. The timeless materials of earth, metal, grass, and silver now find expression in modern design studios, sustainable collectives, and global exhibitions. The rhythm of hand and breath that once shaped temple lamps now shapes tableware, jewellery, and art objects that speak to contemporary living. What began as sacred ritual has become modern expression — yet the essence remains unchanged: the Odia artisan’s quiet dialogue with material, memory, and meaning.

1947 — The Revival of the Hand and the Nation

Independence brought not just political freedom, but a call to reclaim India’s creative heritage. Odisha’s crafts were among the first to find new champions — scholars, cooperatives, and visionaries who saw art as a national identity. Handicraft centers in Cuttack, Puri, and Bhubaneswar revived lost traditions of weaving, metalwork, and clay. Master artisans trained new generations; craft became both livelihood and legacy. The Odishan hand — once anonymous — now found pride of place in galleries, fairs, and museums. In the dawn of modern India, craft became the language through which the past conversed with the future.

1800s — Adaptation in the Colonial Gaze

The 19th century was an age of turbulence and transition. Under British colonial rule, Odisha’s craft economy faced both exploitation and exposure. Traditional guilds dwindled, yet new markets opened through colonial exhibitions. Artisans learned to adapt — crafting for collectors and traders rather than temples and patrons. Bell metal took new shapes as domestic ware; silver filigree turned into brooches and souvenirs. The crafts that once spoke of ritual began to speak the language of commerce. Despite loss and appropriation, the soul of Odisha’s handmade tradition survived — quiet, resilient, waiting for a time to rise again.

1500 CE — The Confluence of Courts and Empires

The Mughal arrival in eastern India brought with it a mingling of cultures and materials. Odisha’s artisans, long rooted in local traditions, absorbed influences from the imperial courts — floral arabesques, lattice patterns, and a refined sensibility in metal and textile. Cuttack’s silversmiths began crafting ornaments that carried Mughal grace with Odia motifs. Textile arts, especially ikat and pipili applique, blossomed under new patronage. This was not mere imitation — it was a conversation between worlds, where Odia hands reinterpreted imperial elegance through their own rhythm of craft and color.

Our approach to craft

We work with artisans and craftspeople from across Odisha, learning their processes, materials, and stories. Through design, we reinterpret these traditions — blending heritage with function, sustainability, and timeless aesthetics. Each collection by BEADS is not just made — it’s co-created.

Cuttack

500+ Years

3500+ Artisans

Threads of pure silver twisted and woven into intricate lace-like forms.

Born in the royal ateliers of Cuttack, Silver Filigree or Tarakasi is Odisha’s most intricate expression of devotion and design. Every strand of silver is stretched, coiled, and soldered into lace-like patterns that once adorned deities, brides, and royalty. The craft, said to have Persian roots, bloomed under the patronage of Odia kings who loved its delicate ornamentation. Today, its luminous threads find new life at BEADS — where tradition bends into abstraction, silver becomes structure, and the ornamental evolves into the essential. Each creation is less about embellishment, more about rhythm — a study in patience and purity.

Across Odisha

3000+ Years

Unknown

Earth in motion

Clay is where BEADS began — the meeting point of earth, air, fire, and human imagination. Our ceramics blend Odisha’s earthy aesthetics with modern functionality, creating objects that are serene, minimal, and full of soul. Each curve and glaze tells a quiet story of process — where the imperfect becomes beautiful, and the handmade becomes eternal.

Bankura, Nayagarh & across Odisha

2500+ Years

3000+ Artisans

Stories from the Earth

Terracotta — earth baked by fire — holds an ancient wisdom in its simplicity. BEADS brings this primal material into a new design dialogue, exploring its sculptural and architectural possibilities. From decorative art to functional ware, our terracotta pieces bridge raw tradition with refined design, reminding us that true beauty often begins in the soil.

Kantilo

1000+ Years

1000+ Artisans

Echoes in metal

Forged in fire and sound, Odisha’s bell metal tradition speaks of ritual and resilience. Artisans in Kantilo have shaped divine forms for generations — each strike of the hammer creating both function and music. BEADS collaborates with these craftsmen to explore new possibilities, translating their skill into sculptural lighting and utility pieces that resonate with warmth and elegance.

Mayurbhanj, Sambalpur

1500+ Years

3500+ Artisans

Nature in form

Light, strong, and infinitely renewable — bamboo has been woven into the daily life of Odisha’s craftspeople for generations. BEADS celebrates this natural material by shaping it into forms that balance texture and structure. Each piece carries a breath of the wild — designed for sustainable, mindful living while preserving the tactile honesty of handcraft.

Mayurbhanj

800+ Years

6000+ Artisans

Weaves of warmth

Grown in the forests of Odisha, Sabai grass has long been a symbol of self-sufficiency and rural artistry. BEADS works with women artisans to reinterpret this humble material — crafting tactile, contemporary home accents that carry the warmth of nature. Every weave holds a rhythm of care, connecting tradition to modern living through form and texture.

Boudh, Dhenkanal

1200+ Years

3500+ Artisans

Lines of life

Flexible yet enduring, cane weaving is an art of rhythm and repetition. In Odisha’s craft villages, artisans bend and weave this natural material into baskets, furniture, and everyday objects filled with grace. BEADS collaborates with these skilled makers to reinterpret cane into minimalist, contemporary designs — balancing strength and softness. Each curve and knot embodies both nature’s geometry and human intuition, bringing organic elegance into modern spaces.

Cuttack, Puri

600+ Years

2500+ Artisans

Forms of memory

Born from layers of paper, water, and imagination, Odisha’s paper mâché craft transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. Traditionally used to create masks, idols, and toys, it speaks of patience and storytelling through humble material. At BEADS, this craft finds new meaning in décor and sculpture — where paper becomes structure, and texture becomes expression. Each piece carries the echo of hand movements, narrating a story of renewal, resilience, and art reborn.

High Quality

Crafted from top materials

Genuine Handmade

With certification

Damage Protection

On all orders

24/7 Support

Dedicated support