Alamkara: 5000 Years of Indian Art by R.C. Sharma

Alamkara - Sanskrit for ornamentation or decoration - describes an enduring characteristic of Indian artistic production, whether in the visual, performing or literary arts. This namesake volume explores this notion of ornamentation in the context of objects made for use in domestic, religious and courtly settings. This subject is further explored in a series of scholarly essays and introductory notes to each section, by some of the foremost experts on the history of Indian art.