Wood
Though Indian handicrafts is around 5000 years old, references of wood carving are found from the vedic age, some 1500 BC. A sculpture, figure or figurine may be formed out of working wood by means of a cutting or carving tool. Some of the basic tools are carving knife, a gouge, the chisel, a mallet, v ad u shape tools and of course the grained or sand paper.
The scope of carving depends on the nature of the wood. Commonly used wood for carving includes chestnut, walnut, mahogany and teak. Hardwoods have a longer life and lust. Softer wood is easier to carve. Natural oils of walnut and linseed are used to polish the complete pieces to protect them from lust and moisture.
Coloured lacquerware can be found in a large variety of decorative as well as utilitarian articles, including kitchen ware, motor cars, toy telephones, and other items like chairs and table lamps. A...
The wooden dolls of Kondapalli are famous throughout Andhra Pradesh. These are crafted by artisans known as arya kshatriyas who use the soft poniki wood to create themes to include everyday scenes...
This popular craft of Karnataka is still widely practised. Rosewood inlay work which is done using various shades and hues of wood shavings is obtained from elaborate woodwork. The pattern is traced...
The old palaces and mahals of Rajasthan have beautifully inlaid doors with ivory and intricate floral or geometric patterns. This artform is also known as Tarkashi. The same skilled craftsmanship is...
About 65 km from Bangalore is a small town Chennapatna which is well known for its unusual wooden lacquered toys and products. These craftsmen called chitragars are involved in this traditional craft...
The village community halls also known as chandimantaps, which were the centres of rural culture had the best of pillars, brackets beams etc. made out of beautifully carved wood. Some of the...
Wooden masks of West Bengal are an important part of the social and cultural activities of the state. The artisans are present in Purulia who make wooden masks for the chhou dancers and so are...
The articles made by the nomadic tribal community of vadas in the Nirona region of Kutch include rolling pins, legs for beds, chairs and tables made in hard mango wood covered with red, black, yellow...
The diverse traditions and religions in Tripura are visible in the wood craft. Wood-carving is widely practised among the hill tribes as well as among those settled in the plains, although the nature...
Saharanpur is well known for its perforated lacy craft. Items are made of sisam, dudhi and sal. The woodcarvers create magic on the articles they prepare. The talent of wood carving is passed from...
Before plastic was introduced in India, combs were made of wood, bamboo, metal, bone, and ivory. Whether simple in design or an intricate work of art, comb-making was a hereditary craft. Now the...
Raja Rani dolls, wooden carved owls, Radha Krishna idols are made in the most significant manner and are prepared in the six different sizes. There are few images of Ganesha, Durga, Ravana and Laxmi...
Tarkashi, a popular artform from Mainpuri in Uttar Pradesh, is primarily brass wire inlay work on wood. It was mainly used for khadaous (wooden sandals), a necessity for every household, since...
This craft is found mainly at Sankheda where the local people craft Sagwan wood into smooth, rounded shapes which are put together in set designs to form the furniture";" these are mainly made as co...
Sandal wood is of great religious importance and is an extremely expensive material for carving artifacts.. Karnataka has a huge forest-belt and sandal wood carvers are found in Bangalore, Mysore,...
Wood carving of temple chariots and palace entrances is one of the oldest traditional crafts that were practiced in Andhra Pradesh. Intricate work depicting Hindu mythological stories and figures in...
Sea Mova' tree grows along the seashore. The wood of the root of this tree also known as drift root is used for wood carving. The better pieces of the roots is carved and shaped into beautiful shapes...
Amritsar and Jallandhar are the two famous cities of the Punjab known for the lacquerware or the abri craft (as known locally). Lacquered furniture like legs for beds and divans in nakashi style are...
The famed temple chariots of Tamil Nadu are made of wood and are full of detailed and skillful carvings. The 19th century old Padmanabhapuram palace in Kanyakumari district is a striking example of...
Etikoppakka, a village (about 80 km from Vishakapatnam) in Andhra Pradesh is well-known for its lacquered toys and products. Tradition has it that the craft has been practised continuously for two...
Thin and long strips of ebony, ivory, red wood, bone, and tin are stuck together to make the designs of marquetry, called sadeli, which a speciality of Surat ? a city in Gujrat. This craft which was...
The artists from the hills are skilled in encapturing the natural beauty of Kumaon and Garwhal through the craft of wood carving. The craft has declined over the current. However, in the olden days,...
Wooden Toys of Kinhal, Karnataka Kinhal, a tiny village in Raichur district of Karnataka, has an immensely rich artistic heritage. It was once a flourishing centre for crafts, the most well-known...
Hand- block printing is practiced mostly all overIndia and every region has its own style and colour scheme. Pilakhua in Uttar-Pradesh has craftsperson?s making brass blocks and using it for...
In Gokak, a village in Belgaum district, artisans create wooden fruits, vegetables, animals and birds using a specialised soft variety of wood --- usually hariwala, polki, and hale. This craft is at...
