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USTA ART- The unique form of paintings on camel hide Usta Art came from Iran and flourished in the Mughal durbars and inter-mingled with the Indian culture. Raja Rai Singh, the then king of Bikaner, brought nawab Usta artists to his kingdom. The Usta artisans of Bikaner developed a new stream of Usta art. Their descendents manifested its beauty in the form of Bikaner's fabulous Junagarh Fort's Anoop palace, Chandra palace, karan palace and Phool Mahal. The art is still thriving and to this day , Usta craftsmen can be seen practicing the art, handed down by their ancestors. Mohammad Haneef Usta Mr.Ayub Usta, Mr. Iqubal, Mr. Altaf, Mr. Javed Hasan, All have carved a niche in Usta art. . In 1989 Mo.Haneef was honored with state award for his excellence in Manowati Gold embossing. He is being awarded

National award for his excellence in Manowati Gold Nakkashi. At present you can find usta work at Rampuria havelies ,Ajmer Dargah, Delhi Mizamudin Oliya and Mazaar of Amir khusro the Junagarh fort. During the British rule, leather goods came in use for embossing. After the emboding, it is painted and gold is applied where ever
required. Then the ink is used with a brush made of squirrel hair to fill the design withdifferent colours.The Usta art of Bikaner is world famous for its multidimensional forms like meenakari on camel hide, golden meenakari and paintings in palaces and havelis of Bikaner. Mohd. Hanif Usta is a leading Usta artisan of the state. He has inherited this art form from his forefathers and has created excellent pieces of art displayed on camel hide, stone and metal.

Apart  from Utsa art ,there are varied forms of miniature paintings that are quite popular. This art came in India with Usta artists from Iran brought by the emperors and flourished in the Mughal period in courts and palaces. A group of seven Usta artists paintings can be seen even today in the rooms of the Junagarh fort. During the British rule, leather goods came in use for embossing. After the emboding, if is painted and gold is applied where ever required. Then the ink is used with a brush made of squirrel hai to fill the design withdifferent colours. The Usta art of Bikaner is world famous for its multidimentional forms like meenakari on camel hide, golden meenakari and painting in Usta is a leading usta artisan of the state. He has inherited this art form from his forefathers and has created excellent pieces of art displyedon camel hide, stone and metal.Apart from Usta art, there are varied forms of miniature paintings that arequite popular with contributions from eminent artists like shre Mahaveer Swai  Ram & Narayan Swami.