Leather Art - The art of making Lampshades has its origin in Leather puppetry. This form of art popularly known as 'Tholu Bommalata' in Telugu is one of the earliest performing arts. Dating back to the 3rd century B.C. and reaching its pinnacle during the Vijayanagar Empire, these puppets are folk in style, conception and execution. The figures are made of goat leather. The advent of other modes of entertainment caused a decline in patronage of this art. Puppeteers have channelled this art into the making of small vases, partition screens and wall decorates and lampshades. This helped expand the market, without disturbing the basic traditional character. The perforation executed on the coloured leather gives an appearance of rich ornamentation against the background of light. The use of light to depict and narrate epics on screen and puppets modelled representing mythological characters created artistically out of leather have contributed to the uniqueness of these lampshades. The creators of these puppets have discovered lamp shades on leather to be the best medium to not only keep their traditions and art alive but also serve as a source of livelihood. Though the medium of expression has changed, the form continues to be the same. The beautiful and colourful spectrum of lampshades depicting episodes from folklore, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Krishna leela and a host of other characters continue to a narrative form.

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