WOOD CARVING

Wood carving is the Art or Technique of carving objects by hand from wood or of carving decorations into wood. Wood carving using special wood like Sandal, sheesham and rosewood is done to create some beautiful handicrafts item showing symbols of rich Indian cultural heritage. This is one of the old Art form in India and done is few of the states like Rajasthan.

       

       Wood carving of Rajasthan 

It is an age old craft which was highly in demand during the royal age. In the earlier days there used to be special artists working in the palaces who were also supported by the royals to promote this Art. These days artists at barker very skilfully carve beds and couches which have jali or net carving along with many other pattern and motifs.

Unlike the southern neighbour, Gujarat, Rajasthan does not enjoy the benefits of a coastline that enabled large logs of woods to be transported up the Malabar and Konkon coasts. While Gujarat overcame its deficiency in wood to become, over the centuries, one of the world's richest regions in wood carving, Rajasthan's problems of logistics- of transporting massive trunks of teak wood across the desert states allowed this to be attempted only by the wealthy.

Nevertheless, in their skill and fervour for embellishment, the craftsmen of Rajasthan adorned whatever wood they handled, in architecture, in furniture, and in objects. Had wood been a less perishable medium, more samples would have remained of the extra-ordinary workmanship of the ancestors of today's craftsmen.

Many of rajasthan's palaces have doors exquisitely inlaid with ivory - usually in intricate floral or geometric patterns. The same craftsmanship was carried over to the throne, the howdah, the horse or camel saddle. Since Rajasthan is so rich in painting, these creations in wood, in almost all the palaces, bear fine examples of painting in the style of the local school. 

 The oldest recorded piece of furniture in Rajasthan- a sandalwood pugal, throne- lies in the Bikaner museum.

Important points!

•  The wood carvers, more than the carpenters of Rajasthan, had begun moving to other professions. Fortunately, there now seems to be a conscious revival and, with the lack of the original patrons, city people have begun commissioning craftsmen to carve traditional looking furniture, mirror frames, planters and more. This may never become the substitute for the thriving patron-craftsmen relationship of the past, but, it can at least ensure that a dying craft of Rajasthan can remain alive.
• Rohida wood is used in making turned bowls used by the Jain monks. 
• wood is available in the jungles around Hadoti (kotah-bundi) and the Mewar region (Salumbar, chavand, Partabgarh, Dungarpur), for South-West Rajasthan is greener. These areas produce good woodwork, but the best carving was done in regions where wood was not easily available and thereby valued more. 

• In Rajasthan, there is a traditional of gifting a sindoor box to the girl in her marriage which is specially designed in the shape of a peacock. There is another beautiful item called Kavadh which is shrine opening out into seven panels with painted scenes.

               A wood carver in Delhi 

On my recent visit to kathputli colony, I met a craftmen, who is doing this from past 30-35 years.He told that it has been in his family for generations but his new generation has no interest in this. 

He born in Rajasthan and belongs to a Bhatt community, which is very famous for their Folk Art. He is working in "bhoole bisre kalakar " which is a cooperative society, and run by a NGO named Saarthi. He and his ancestors has made so many wooden souvenier which are in a great demand. They usually get direct orders from existing clients and also from handicrafts emporiums. 

They use tiny instruments used for carving like a plane,mallet hone or fine-grained hard stone, an assortment of various shapes and sizes of chisels and a few engraving tools, which was delicate. The right side picture is his tool box.

By explaining what wood carving exactly is he told that sandalwood is most appropriate for intricate carving, for small carving basswood is an excellent choice, and for sculpture butternut, walnut, mahogany is good.

He told that first design is made on wood with pencil, at times paper is pasted to ensure that wood color is intact after the project is over. Then a basic outline is made with one of the carving equipments. Slowing this outline becomes the basic carved design and then starts the real art of making each corner of the design elegant to look as a masterpiece. Last finishing steps is to ensure the perfectness and light/shade patterns, appropriate curves and textures.

By doing this he earn enough money for his livelihood. He also told that like everyone he also wants to expand his business and for this he is putting his all efforts.

                  Some pictures of his work

ganesh ji

crocodile

Thank you for reading!