Beautiful & Unique. A lovely set of rustic work or home accessories, crafted from papier mache and beautifully painted with Madhubani art. Use these very utilitarian pieces in myriad ways...perfect to hold all kinds of things from stationery to cutlery to napkins and so much more! These are not washable items and should only be used for dry storage. The origins of Madhubani or Mithila Painting are shrouded in antiquity and mythology. Madhubani paintings are made from the paste of powdered rice and use two dimensional imagery, while colors used are derived from plants. Women of this region have traditionally painted colorful auspicious images on the interior walls of their homes on the occasion of domestic rituals since at least the 14th century. The Paintings are now also done on cloth, handmade paper, metal and canvas.