The craft
Sanganeri vs Bagru print: how to tell them apart
Sanganer and Bagru sit about an hour apart near Jaipur, and both are famous for hand block printing. Both crafts are registered Geographical Indications. Their prints still look quite different once you know what to look for.
Sanganeri print
- Usually printed on a white or very light ground.
- Fine, delicate florals and small buti (single motifs) repeated across the cloth.
- Bright, clear colours: reds, pinks, greens and yellows.
Bagru print
- Often printed on a cream, beige or deep coloured ground.
- Earthy colours such as indigo, rust, black and mustard.
- Known for dabu, the mud-resist technique, and for bolder motifs.
What both have in common
In both villages, each colour in a design has its own carved wooden block, and the printer lines up every repeat by eye. Small gaps, overlaps or shifts in colour where one stamp meets the next are the sign of a print made by hand.
Hand block or Jaipuri print?
Many sheets sold as Jaipuri are screen printed, which is faster and cheaper and repeats perfectly. We label every product as hand block or Jaipuri print, so you always know which one you are buying.