Export classification & market context (what customs will look for)

• Likely HS code: Original hand-made paintings typically ship under HS 9701 (“Paintings, drawings and pastels, executed entirely by hand…; collages and similar decorative plaques”).
  
  • Notes: HS 9701 excludes hand-painted manufactured articles (those classify with the article material).
    
• Duties in key markets: In the U.S., original works under Chapter 97 are duty-free (framed or unframed).
  
• Scale of trade: India’s exports of HS 9701 were about US$169 million in 2023 (≈0.033% of India’s merchandise exports). Global trade in HS 9701 was about US$19.4B in 2023.
  

Practical tip: When items are painted on textile or palm-leaf supports and sold as decor articles, some customs brokers may argue for headings in textiles or plaiting materials. When the item is sold as an original artwork, HS 9701 is typically accepted. Keep invoices/descriptions explicit: “Original hand-painted artwork on [paper/canvas/palm leaf], artist signed, non-antique.”

Region-specific sub-categories (heritage, techniques, strengths)

Indian Miniature Paintings (Rajasthan & Pahari schools)

• Where/heritage: Courts and ateliers across Rajasthan (Mewar, Bundi, Kota, Kishangarh, Jaipur) and the Himalayan Pahari region (incl. Kangra).
  
  • Kangra Paintings carry an India GI registration (No. 381; 2012).
    
• Technique & materials: Fine mineral/vegetable pigments; squirrel-hair/bamboo brushes; wasli paper; narrative sets (Ragamala, Bhagavata Purana), portraiture; extremely fine line and color modulation are quality hallmarks. (For background on schools and features.)
  
• Quality checklist (RFQ language):
  
  • Paper: Acid-free, lignin-free; ISO 9706 “permanent” paper or cotton rag; pH-neutral mounts.
    
  • Pigments: Label lightfastness where known (e.g., ASTM D4303 methods for artists’ materials).
    
  • Documentation: Artist/atelier COA; for GI-linked works (e.g., Kangra), include authorized-user details or GI mention (without misusing the GI)
    

India/region strengths: Rajasthan and Himachal clusters maintain lineages with court-style aesthetics; the Kangra GI underpins provenance storytelling for premium wall décor

Madhubani (Mithila) Paintings — Bihar

• Where/heritage: Mithila region of Bihar (and adjoining Nepal). Recognized by India’s Ministry of Culture portal.
  
• Technique & materials: Traditionally done by women on walls/floors, now on handmade paper/canvas, using natural dyes (plant/mineral) and nibs/bamboo sticks; styles include Kachni (line) and Bharni (filled color).
  
• GI status: “Madhubani Paintings” is listed among GI products (GI Registry).
  
• Quality checklist:
  
  • Support: Handmade or archival paper (ISO 9706 recommended) with deacidified, pH-neutral backing.
  • Colorants: Disclose if natural vs poster/acrylic; provide any available lightfastness data or care guidance (avoid direct sun).
  • Provenance: Village/artist collective; GI/ODOP references where applicable for marketing claims. (Govt ODOP pages list Madhubani as a district craft.)
    

India/region strengths: Strong ODOP and state backing; instantly recognizable figurative language (epics, flora/fauna, fertility motifs) with natural-dye narrative that resonates with sustainable décor buyers.

Gond Paintings — Madhya Pradesh (Central India)

• Where/heritage: Originates with Gond communities (esp. Dindori/Mandla). Officially recognized on the Indian Culture portal.
• GI status: “Gond Painting of Madhya Pradesh” received a GI tag (Application No. 701)
• Technique & materials: Signature line-and-dot patterning; nature/animal cosmologies; now commonly acrylic on paper/canvas (contemporary wall décor friendly).
  
• Quality checklist:
  
  • Support: Stretched canvas or archival paper (ISO 9706); sealed, ready-to-hang options for retail.
    
  • Paints: Prefer labeled lightfast acrylics; request pigment lists or ASTM D4303 lightfastness tier where available.
    
  • Documentation: GI authorized user/collective; artist bios (well-known Gond artists drive sell-through).
    

India/region strengths: The GI formalizes provenance and cultural IP; bold contemporary look suits global interiors, with strong stories from MP’s tribal art belts.

Pattachitra / Patachitra — Odisha & West Bengal

• Where/heritage: Odisha (notably Raghurajpur heritage village) and West Bengal scroll traditions. Both have GI registrations: Odisha Pattachitra (No. 88) and Bengal Patachitra (No. 564).
  
• Technique & materials: Cloth (patta) prepared with chalk/adhesive ground; palm-leaf variants; natural pigments incl. conch-shell white, hingula (vermilion), haritala (orpiment), carbon black.
  
  • Cluster: Raghurajpur is a designated “heritage village” for Pattachitra (developed with INTACH in 2000).
    
• Quality checklist:
  
  • Support & finish: Properly cured patta ground; even burnishing; pigment binder integrity; archival backing when framed.
  • Pigments: If using traditional minerals (e.g., hingula/orpiment), confirm lead/arsenic safety for export markets (see compliance below), or specify modern non-toxic substitutes.
  • Provenance: GI mention; village/artist details (Raghurajpur/Khurda/Puri for Odisha; Midnapore/Birbhum/Nayagram for Bengal).
    

India/region strengths: Deep ritual association with Jagannath temples (Odisha) and performance scrolls (Bengal) supports strong storytelling and GI-led authenticity claims in premium wall déc

Compliance & paperwork

• Antiquities (non-negotiable): India’s Antiquities & Art Treasures Act, 1972 prohibits export of “antiquities” (incl. paintings ≥100 years old) unless specifically authorized. Only newly produced works should be procured for export; keep artist/date on COA.
• Lead & hazardous pigments:
  
  • U.S.: 16 CFR Part 1303 bans lead in paints/surface coatings ≥ 0.009% in consumer products and certain furniture; while artists’ paints may have nuanced treatment, consumer décor should be lead-safe. Ask suppliers to certify coatings meet 16 CFR 1303.
    
  • EU: REACH Annex XVII restricts lead and certain azo dyes in articles for the general public. Request declarations that pigments/binders used comply with applicable REACH Annex XVII entries.
    
• Lightfastness & materials claims: Where you market longevity, ask for pigment info or testing against ASTM D4303 (or provide conservation care guidance if testing isn’t available).
  
• HS documentation: Describe plainly: “Original hand-painted artwork” + medium/support (e.g., “acrylic on canvas”; “natural pigment on cloth/palm leaf”). Include non-antique statement on commercial invoice to avoid ASI queries.
  

Sourcing clusters you can tap

• Kangra (HP) — Pahari/Kangra miniatures (GI 381).
  
• Rajasthan (Jaipur/Udaipur/Bundi/Kota) — Rajput schools (Rajasthani miniatures).
  
• Mithila (Madhubani/Darbhanga, Bihar) — Madhubani painting; listed on Govt cultural portal and ODOP promos.
  
• Dindori/Mandla (MP) — Gond painting (GI 701); active state promotion noted in recent coverage.
  
• Raghurajpur (Odisha) — Pattachitra (GI 88) heritage village/INTACH project.
  

Ready-to-use RFQ spec

Item: Original wall décor artwork — choose one: Miniature (Kangra/Rajasthan), Madhubani, Gond, Pattachitra
Support & size: [Paper ISO 9706 / cotton rag] or [stretched canvas], [final framed size __ x __ cm]
Medium: Natural mineral/vegetable pigments or artist-grade acrylics (declare)
Quality:

• Archival materials (acid-free backing/mounts; pH-neutral adhesives)
  
• Pigments declared with lightfastness info or care guidance (ASTM D4303 reference)
  
• GI reference where applicable (Kangra GI 381; Gond GI 701; Odisha Pattachitra GI 88; Bengal Patachitra GI 564) with authorized-user ID copy
  Compliance:
  
• Confirm non-antique (produced in [year]); artist COA attached (name/signature/date)
  
• Paint/coating meets US 16 CFR 1303 and EU REACH Annex XVII requirements for lead/azo dyes (when applicable)
  Customs: Declare as HS 9701 “Original hand-painted artwork” with support (paper/canvas/palm leaf).
  Packaging: Glassine wrap, corner protectors; rigid double-wall carton; no PVC in contact; include desiccant & handling labels (Do Not Bend).
  

Why India for these wall décor lines

• Protected provenance: Multiple GI-tagged art forms—Kangra, Gond, Odisha Pattachitra, Bengal Patachitra—enable traceable storytelling and IP-backed branding.
  
• Active clusters & institutions: Govt-recognized heritage hubs (e.g., Raghurajpur) and Ministry of Culture documentation add authenticity and supply stability.
  
• Friction-light imports: HS 9701 classification and duty-free status in markets like the U.S. keep landed costs attractive for curated wall décor ranges.