Thanjavur is best known for two craft traditions: Thanjavur painting and bronze casting. Thanjavur paintings — with their gold leaf, embedded gems, and vivid deity figures — are sold in shops and workshops around the palace area and along Gandhi Road. Quality varies enormously; the best pieces involve real gold foil and careful gesso work. Expect to pay accordingly.
Thanjavur bronzes are traditionally made by the lost-wax (cire perdue) method, a technique unchanged since Chola times. The government emporium near the Art Gallery sells authenticated pieces. Private workshops, some near the old Shaivite quarters, can be visited to watch the casting process. Musical instruments — particularly the Thanjavur veena, a long-necked lute — are another local product worth looking for.