Custom name plates, hand-painted with your name

Round, rectangular, or with bells

The round mandala plates are the most popular. The pattern radiates out from the centre and the name sits across the middle on a clear band, so it stays readable against all the detail around it.

Rectangular plates suit a narrow space beside a door frame, and they give the name more room — useful for a longer family name or two names together. Some are made with a row of small brass bells along the bottom, which move and sound a little when the door opens.

Motifs are yours to choose. A Ganesha panel or a swastik at the corners is common for a main door; lotus tiles and floral borders are the usual alternative if you would rather keep it non-religious.

How your name goes on

Send me the name exactly as you want it to read, including the spelling and whether you want a surname, a house number, or both. Script matters too — most are painted in English, and Hindi or another script is possible if you tell me in advance.

I'll share a mockup with your name in place before painting. Names are the one thing on a plate that cannot be fixed afterwards, so this step is not optional.

Colours, size and where it will hang

Tell me the colour of your door and the light it gets. A dark plate on a dark teak door disappears; that is the most common mistake and it is easy to avoid at the design stage.

Size depends on where it goes — beside a flat door, on the door itself, or on a gate. Send me a photo of the spot and rough measurements and I'll suggest a size and shape.

One honest caution: these are hand-painted pieces with mirror and clay detailing. They are made for a covered doorway or an indoor wall. A plate mounted on an open gate in full sun and monsoon rain will not last the way it should — tell me if that is the plan and I'll say so before you order rather than after.

Made as a gift

A name plate is one of the better housewarming gifts, because it is genuinely personal and the recipient cannot already own one. For a griha pravesh or a wedding, tell me the date you need it by and the name to paint.

If you are giving it as a surprise and cannot ask for the spelling, send me a photo of the existing plate or an envelope — I would rather check than guess.

Questions before ordering