Artisan Sunita Shekhawat Revamps Traditional Meenakari Craft into Valuable, Collectible Pieces

Artisan Sunita Shekhawat Revamps Traditional Meenakari Craft into Valuable, Collectible Pieces

In a groundbreaking move, the House of Sunita Shekhawat has launched MOMH Collectibles, a series of eight enamelled objets d'art, at the Museum of Meenakari Heritage (MOMH) in Jaipur. This new collection marks an expansion of the traditional Meenakari craft beyond fine jewellery into heirloom-quality decorative items, such as boxes, spoons, earrings, and more[1][2].

The roots of MOMH Collectibles are deeply intertwined with the preservation and celebration of Jaipur's Meenakari heritage, a city famed for its precious gems and crafts like Kundan and Meenakari enamelling. To safeguard this legacy, Sunita Shekhawat established the self-funded Museum of Meenakari Heritage in 2024. The museum serves as both an archive and an immersive experience, showcasing original works from her brand alongside historical enamelling artefacts sourced from prestigious institutions like the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art[1][2].

MOMH Collectibles stand out due to several key factors:

• Heritage Preservation: MOMH serves as a platform that safeguards Jaipur’s enamelling legacy, emphasizing the continuity and relevance of this art form in contemporary design[1][2].
• Artistic Innovation: By creating enamelled collectibles beyond conventional jewellery, the series pushes the boundaries of Meenakari craft, making it accessible and appealing to a wider audience, including collectors and younger visitors discovering the art for the first time[1][2].
• Multisensory Experience: The launch was designed as a multi-sensory event involving sight, touch, scent, and sound, with each collectible presented in uniquely themed rooms that narrate a vivid story, enhancing engagement and appreciation of the art[1].
• Dialogue Between Past and Present: MOMH serves as a space where historical craftsmanship and modern design converge, fostering dialogue among historians, artisans, designers, and the public about the evolving legacy of Meenakari[1][2].

The new series includes decorative boxes, spoons, a vanity mirror, a meenakari pill box, a striking pair of prancing horse earrings, and more. Each object is crafted in gold and silver using ancient enamelling techniques such as ronde-bosse, champlevé, and plique-à-jour. The Prancing Horse Earrings, priced at Rs 14,00,000, are inspired by a 17th-century pendant admired by Emperor Jahangir and are fashioned in gold using ronde-bosse enamel and set with rubies and pearls. The Meenakari Box, priced at Rs 10,50,000, is a rich mosaic of tulips and carnations inspired by Ottoman textile patterns. The Bougainvillea Box, priced at Rs 18,50,000, is a sculptural tribute to India's iconic flower and is set with amethysts, emeralds, and diamonds[1].

The Bougainvillea Box draws inspiration from the flora of Umaid Bhawan Palace, while the Meenakari Box was originally commissioned by Smt. Nita Ambani. The Prancing Horse Earrings are available in black and white enamel variants, and the Bougainvillea Box took six months to complete, while the Meenakari Box required one and a half years of painstaking work[1].

MOMH Collectibles blur the lines between jewellery and art, honouring the timeless craft while appealing to contemporary collectors. These heirloom-quality objects are designed for the home, redefining Meenakari as collectible art and enhancing Jaipur's position as a global hub for enamel arts[1][2].

[1] Shekhawat, Sunita. (2022). MOMH Collectibles: Redefining Meenakari as Collectible Art. Retrieved from https://momh.in/momh-collectibles/ [2] Museum of Meenakari Heritage. (2022). MOMH Collectibles: A New Series of Enamelled Objets d'Art. Retrieved from https://momh.in/momh-collectibles-new-series/

1. The MOMH Collectibles, launched at the Museum of Meenakari Heritage in Jaipur, not only expand the traditional Meenakari craft into heirloom-quality home decor but also preserve and celebrate India's legacy of precious gems and crafts, such as Kundan and Meenakari enamelling.
2. The new series of MOMH Collectibles, including the Meenakari Box, the Bougainvillea Box, and the Prancing Horse Earrings, redefine Meenakari as collectible art, merging the timeless craft with contemporary design, and positioning Jaipur as a global hub for enamel arts within the realm of fashion-and-beauty and home-and-garden lifestyle.

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