Stonework in Gujarat follows both classical (based on the ShilpaShastras)and the local traditions. The classical is seen in the large scale constructions which has often bene patronized by the chieftains, rulers and the royal families. Local shrines and funerary structures exhibit the spontaneity of evolved traditions. […]
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Saharanpur is famous for ornamental combs and trinket boxes carved out abnoos or ebony. Variations like raja and rani ki kangi, with the former having teeth on one side and the latter on both sides one of the several craft articles. Items such as jaali comb and judd comb, machli ki jaali(comb), tel wala kangyo(oil […]
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The craft of coconut shell carving of Bankura district of West Bengal began as a variation of the infamous conch shell carving from the same region. During the 1980’s there was a sudden scarcity in the supply of conch shells in West Bengal, as a result their prices soared. To sustain themselves and to keep […]
The main centres of ivory-carving in West Bengal are Khagra and Jiagunj in the Murshidabad district. The ivory-carvers belong to the pashana (stone) group of the traditional sutradhar caste. The ivory-carving is secular in character as it is a mixture of Hindu folk forms and Islamic designs. The items carved range from a king sitting […]
Wood craft, an ancient art form was originally patronised by the Buddhist monasteries, where ornate wood plaques, Buddhist symbols and icons continue to adorn the walls. Wooden images of Lord Buddha, and wooden containers and utensils are extensively used in Sikkim. The local Sikkimese use a wooden pot for churning curd to make butter, where […]
The Sompuras is one of the communities of stone temple carvers and monument builders. Employed in temple building across India the craft is considered a holy duty. The masons and stone carvers specialize in creating idols, motifs for religious structures. Religious structures are built regionally to show the use of local style Gujarat craftsperson are […]
The profusion of carved wood in the old Newar towns in the Kathmandu Valley is so great that it almost defies description. Every traditional townhouse, every temple and monastery, and every palace, offers examples of an enormous variety of carved doors, windows, struts, pillars, toranas, and so on – many of these are unique in […]
Ivory has always been a scarce commodity – not more than one in a hundred Sri Lankan male elephants have tusks. However, now that the elephant is a protected animal at Sri Lanka it is almost impossible for the artisans to legitimately obtain ivory to pursue their craft. Ivory-carvers are using other materials like horn […]