Guides & JournalLippan Art: How to Make Clay and Mirror Wall Art
Lippan art is a style of wall decoration made from raised lines of clay with small mirror pieces set into the pattern, so the whole piece sparkles when light hits it. It comes from the desert region of Kutch, where it was traditionally made on the inside walls of round mud homes. Today it's made at home on a canvas board or MDF with air dry clay and craft mirrors. Here's what you need, how to make lippan art step by step, and easy lippan art designs for beginners.
What is lippan art?
"Lippan" means mud plaster. Traditionally, women decorated the walls of their homes with a mix of clay and dung, shaped into geometric patterns, peacocks and flowers, with mirror pieces pressed in. The mirrors made small rooms brighter. Mirror-and-thread work is shared across the Thar desert on both sides of the border, which is why the look feels familiar to anyone who knows Sindhi mirror embroidery.
Lippan art materials
Craft mirrors can have sharp edges — handle them carefully and keep them away from small children.
- A base — an MDF board, a canvas board, or a ready-cut round or square MDF shape.
- Air dry clay (or a craft putty clay) for the raised lines.
- Small craft mirrors — round, diamond and triangle shapes.
- Strong craft glue for the mirrors.
- Acrylic paint for the base (white and brown or terracotta are traditional) and a brush.
- A pencil, a ruler or compass, and a toothpick for neat edges.
How to make lippan art on canvas step by step
Working from the centre outwards keeps the pattern even, and a compass makes the circles neat.
- Paint the base board in your background colour and let it dry.
- Draw your design in pencil — a circle in the middle, rings around it, and triangles or diamonds in between.
- Glue the mirrors in place first, following the pencil lines.
- Roll the clay into thin, even ropes, about as thick as a matchstick.
- Lay the ropes along your lines and around each mirror, pressing them down gently.
- Add small clay dots and little petal shapes to fill the spaces.
- Let the clay dry fully as the packet says.
- Paint the clay — traditionally white on a brown or terracotta background — and add a coat of varnish.
💡 Worth knowing
Keep your clay ropes the same thickness all the way through. Even lines are what make lippan art look professional.
Easy lippan art designs for beginners
Start small — a 6-inch or 8-inch round — before trying a large wall piece.
- Mandala circle — one big mirror in the middle with rings of small mirrors around it.
- Simple border — a square board with a mirror and triangle pattern only around the edges.
- Peacock — a classic Kutch motif with mirrors as the tail feathers.
- Name or initial — clay letters with mirrors around them, good as a gift.
- Mini coasters or keyrings — small round pieces that are quick to finish.
Lippan art on a mirror and other ideas
Lippan work also looks good around the frame of a real mirror, on trays, clocks, jewellery boxes and diya stands. The method is the same: glue the mirrors, outline with clay, dry, paint and seal. For more clay-and-mirror ideas, see Clay Mirror Art: Ideas, Clay Types and Selling, and for picking the right clay see Types of Clay for Art: Air Dry, Polymer and More.
Selling lippan art
On dapxop you can open a shop for free, list your lippan art with photos, and dapxop arranges delivery to buyers across Pakistan. Browse wall art and mirrors and frames for inspiration, or see this clay art mirror from a dapxop seller.
- Photograph it at an angle in daylight so the mirrors catch the light.
- Say the size, the base material and whether it's ready to hang.
- Pack it face-down with bubble wrap, mirror side protected, and mark it fragile.
- Offer custom colours or names — custom orders are where lippan art sells best.
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Frequently asked
What is lippan art?
A wall decoration style made from raised clay lines with small mirror pieces set into the pattern. It comes from the Kutch desert region, where it was made on the walls of mud homes.
What materials do you need for lippan art?
An MDF or canvas board, air dry clay, small craft mirrors, strong glue, acrylic paint, a pencil and a toothpick or compass for neat lines.
Which clay is used for lippan art?
At home, most people use air dry clay or a craft putty clay. Traditionally it was a mix of clay and dung.
How do you make lippan art on canvas?
Paint the board, draw the design, glue the mirrors, outline them with thin clay ropes, add dots, let it dry, then paint and varnish the clay.
Is lippan art easy for beginners?
Yes, if you start small — a 6–8 inch round with a simple circle or border pattern — and keep your clay ropes an even thickness.
Can I sell lippan art?
Yes. Photograph it so the mirrors sparkle, list the size and offer custom names or colours. On dapxop you can open a free shop and dapxop arranges delivery.