Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing 🇮🇳

The Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing is a private institution located in Amber, Rajasthan, situated near the Amber Fort. Established in 2005, the facility was conceived by Rachel Bracken-Singh and Pritam Singh, who are connected to the Anokhi retail brand known for block-printed attire. The museum serves as a dedicated space for preserving heritage crafts and educating the public on the rich historical background and technical methods of block printing.

The setting itself holds significant historical value, as the museum occupies the Anokhi Haveli, a 16th-century mansion formerly called the Chanwar Palkiwalon ki Haveli. Purchased in a state of disrepair in the late 1970s by John Singh, the property underwent a three-year renovation process starting in 1989 under the guidance of architects Nimish Patel and Parul Zaveri from Abhikram. This sustainable restoration project earned a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Conservation Award in the year 2000. The mansion interior was later styled by French architect Stephane Paumier to accommodate three full floors of gallery space.

Exhibits inside the mansion detail the evolution, technical processes, and stylistic variations of hand-block printing. Visitors can examine the physical implements used in the craft, including drills, chisels, and carving blocks made of wood and iron. The collections feature an extensive selection of textiles, ranging from rare historic garments and contemporary fashion to coats, jackets, and bichaunis, or bedcovers. The Anokhi Archives within the building house a preserved record of clothing and domestic fabrics dating back to the 1970s.

Specialized displays showcase distinct regional craft traditions. These include traditional village outfits originating from Balota in Rajasthan, as well as a detailed 14-step glass-case exhibit illustrating the Ajrakh printing and dyeing method from Gujarat. Another featured display highlights the creative exchange between Indian artisans and the Russian avant-garde designer Leon Bakst, an exhibition originally designed for the museum 2005 inauguration.

In addition to exploring the static galleries, visitors to the museum receive a tactile learning experience. The facility offers the opportunity to directly watch skilled block printers and wood carvers actively engaged in their craft, providing an immersive look at living artisanal techniques.