Artist's Palette Decoration

This exquisitely crafted fabric decoration features an artist's palette and paintbrush. With meticulous embroidery details, it features the traditionally shaped thin wooden board, designed to be held in the artist's hand, and rest on their arm.

Handcrafted in India and intricately embroidered using the ancient zardozi tradition. Zari – meaning gold – embroidery originated in Persia and reached India in the 12th century. This is a highly skilled technique that traditionally used gold wires and jewels to embellish courtly robes. Today zardozi work is a rare and respected craft and is recognized as one of the Ancient Handicrafts by the Government of India.

Made by St Nicolas, who for over 30 years have worked with a small Christian charity in Thailand that helps disadvantaged rural women find work in their community, rather than being forced to leave home to work in a factory. Today, some 200 skilled women work at home sewing decorations, and many of them have been doing so for more than 10 years.