The country’s first-ever Museum of Meenakari Heritage now open in Jaipur

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The Pink City is renowned globally for its finely crafted jewelry by skilled craftsmen and artisans, especially its Meenakari artifacts and jewellery. Meenakari involves painting and colouring metal and ceramic surfaces through enameling, with its origins traced back to the Parthian and Sassanid period of Iranian history. The technique flourished during the Safavid era in 15th-century Iran, and was introduced to India by the Mughals, who refined it, making designs more intricate. Rajasthan and Gujarat are celebrated for their Meenakari artifacts and jewelry. Jaipur is now home to the Museum of Meenakari Heritage (MOMH), the first of its kind, dedicated to preserving and celebrating this ancient art form.

Preserving the spirit & process of Meenakari

Sprawled over 3000 sq. ft in the prime area of C-Scheme, the museum is an initiative of the House of Sunita Shekhawat. It pays tribute to the mastery and skill of countless artisans who have carried forward the ancient craft of Meenakari through the centuries. Over 300 images were obtained from over 15 premier museums, private collections, art galleries and auction houses worldwide, charting the nuanced history of enamelling from Renaissance Europe to its arrival in India. These include the British Museum, V&A Museum, Art Institute of Chicago, Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Al-Thani Collection, Aga Khan Museum, The Hermitage and Sotheby’s to name a few. The House of Shekhawat produced over 120 reproductions which serve as a priceless repository of archival motifs, styles and oral histories related to the craft. The myriad forms of enamelling are further explored in the 60 original pieces by Sunita Shekhawat. Her work, alongside that of the many unnamed craftsmen that precede and follow her, forms the lifeblood of this gallery. The gallery preserves both the process and spirit of Meenakari.

Museum of Meenakari Heritage in C Scheme

To educate, inspire and experience

The museum is curated by the noted art historian Usha R Balakrishnan and designed by Siddhartha Das Studio. A palette of ivory, maroon, and brown punctuated by teak wood, red sandstone and antique brass sets the tone of the space. Painstakingly hand painted ceilings and latticed jharokhas capture old world Jaipur. Locally sourced materials and heritage inspired design embody the spirit of Made in India. “The ambition is to create a space where history, art and culture coalesce — a place where visitors can be educated and inspired, and where the artistry of enamelling is not just seen but experienced”, says Usha R Balakrishnan.

A glimpse of Museum of Meenakari Heritage

Through a carefully curated narrative, intuitive design and exceptional images, the gallery preserves not only the physical embodiments of this tradition but also celebrates the intangible — its spirit, its ingenuity, and its power to captivate and inspire.

The Museum of Meenakari Heritage is open for public.