About the Artwork +
This elegant Tholu Bommalata lampshade by Sindhe Sriramulu translates the visual language of Andhra Pradesh’s traditional leather shadow puppetry into a contemporary decorative object. Through its conical form, vivid floral ornamentation and softly glowing surface, the piece brings together the craft’s theatrical relationship with light, colour and shadow.
Tholu Bommalata is a traditional leather craft associated with Nimmalakunta in Andhra Pradesh and is closely connected to the region’s shadow-puppet theatre. The craft involves treating translucent leather, cutting intricate forms into its surface and painting it with bold colours. Traditionally used to create puppets representing episodes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, the same techniques have been adapted here into a functional lampshade while retaining the craft’s distinctive visual character.
The lampshade is conical in form, tapering gently towards the top and supported by four slender metallic rods fixed to a circular base. Its treated leather surface becomes the central field of the composition, allowing the painted decoration to remain visible even when the lamp is unlit and illuminated once lit.
The surface is set against a deep black ground that heightens the brightness of the floral motifs. Large stylised flowers in crimson, magenta, orange and white occupy the central field, each outlined in black and constructed through concentric layers of petals surrounding detailed circular centres. Smaller floral and foliate forms fill the spaces between them, producing a dense ornamental pattern while preserving a clear sense of rhythm across the surface. Connecting these flowers are sweeping green vines that curve and loop across the lampshade. Their continuous movement links the separate motifs into a unified composition and introduces a sense of organic growth.
The upper and lower edges are finished with decorative borders that provide structure to the conical form. Alternating black and white bands encircle the top, while the base is defined by concentric linear borders containing repeating circular motifs. These details frame the floral field and reflect the careful use of line and pattern associated with traditional leather painting.
When lit from within, the lampshade becomes more than a functional object. The reds, greens and whites appear to glow through the leather, while delicate shadows are cast onto the surrounding surface, recalling the dramatic effect of puppets animated against a light source. Through this transformation, the piece carries the performance-based heritage of Tholu Bommalata into a contemporary setting, preserving its material craft, decorative vocabulary and enduring relationship with light and shadow.
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The sizes mentioned are excluding the borders of the artwork. Frames shown are for visual representation only and are not included with the artwork.
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Delivery Timelines and Returns +
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We offer replacements or repairs if your artwork arrives damaged or has a quality issue. As each artwork is handcrafted, we do not accept returns or refunds for orders received in the expected condition.
Delivery Timeline
This artwork will be Made to Order and will take
1-2 weeks
to be made and shipped.
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ensure the quality of your order. You will receive regular updates from us throughout this process.
All MeMeraki artworks are hand-painted. In rare occasions, artist may face delays due to weather, health, prior commitments or force majeure. Our team will reach out to you with revised timelines in case of such delays. We appreciate your understanding and patience in such situations.
Colour Disclaimer+
All artworks on the website are hand painted from scratch by our master artists. This makes every artwork absolutely unique and the actual colour and overall artwork may vary slightly from the artwork image posted here.