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CARVING BEAUTY OUT OF WOOD
India abounds in the choice of handcrafted wood ware. Indian furniture is known for its variety and craftsmanship. As with wood carving, the furniture manufactured in different parts of the country are distinctive in themselves - in the technique applied, the wood and other materials used, the overall feel of the piece, etc.
Wood has an indefinable feel of tradition associated with it. It immediately brings to mind the word 'classic'. It adds warmth to the ambience in a room, and brings with it a sense of comfort and luxury. Depending on the wood that is used, the wooden furniture and handicrafts of India are popular for their richness of colour, the beauty of the grain, the intricacy of the carving, and the magnificence of the craftsmanship. From the lattice work and painted furniture of Rajasthan and the traditional Sankheda style from Gujarat to the colonial style furniture down south, a rich variety is available in the country. The beauty of it all is that Indian craftsmen have applied themselves to the changing needs and requirements of the customers with great aplomb. So one can source something as modern as a CD rack in traditional style with as much ease as something like an antique armoire.
Another enterprising idea that has gained popularity of late is the modification of antique items for use in an entirely different environment. Turning the old richly embellished doors and windows of old palaces, for example, into the doors of cabinets and almirahs, is hugely in vogue. Similarly, wooden chests and boxes of the olden days have found new and innovative use as sofas and other seating furniture. Even out-of-the-ordinary things like the yolk of a bullock cart have found use here - made into a display shelf!
Carved wonders from Rajasthan and Gujarat
One has to see the ornate works of art in these two Indian states to believe the skill of workmanship. In the days of yore, not just temples and other places of worship, but also palaces and people's houses or 'havelis' as they were called, had a lot of carved wooden pillars and rafters. Even the doors and windows were beautifully carved with designs of parrots, horses, elephants, and flowers. The gables of the roof also had very minute details carved out. In those times the art enjoyed royal patronage. Now no one can afford such beauty! Some palaces have been preserved. The old city of Jaisalmer still boasts of some of these havelis. Many havelis have been dismantled and the individual pieces of windows, frames, beams, etc. sold. Now that there is an increase in the demand for all things traditional, the craftsmen are producing more but the designs and patterns may not be as rich and ornate as those of that bygone era.
The wooden furniture made in these places is also quite popular. The latticework is a unique feature of the furniture from these parts. The wood used is mostly sheesham and teak. Nowadays pieces can be made to order. So one finds the beauty of the old combined with the functionality of the modern in pieces like revolving TV stands, for instance. Mirrors and brass ornaments are also used to embellish the beauty of furniture. The combination of the shine of the metal, the glitter of the mirrors and the sheen of wood is truly a bewitching one.
The inlay work and sandalwood of Karnataka
Sandalwood grows in the forests of Karnataka and the craftsmen carve lovely figurines and decorative items like boxes and photo frames from this fragrant, light-coloured and soft wood. With its religious association, sandalwood is highly valued in India and a gift of a sandalwood product is the ultimate for most.
Another art Karnataka is famous for is the inlay work on its furniture as also on wall hangings and other curios. Earlier the inlays were of ivory, but after the ban on ivory use, it has come to be replaced with bone, and even plastic. Entire landscapes have been depicted on some items of furniture using this intricate and painstaking art. It is a very exacting art as the wood has to be carved out in perfect consonance with the piece of bone or whatever is being embedded. The hollowed out portion should neither be too deep or too shallow. With modern adhesives things have become slightly easier; in the olden times craftsmen relied on their expertise at judging and carving out the exact space required for a perfect fit. The inlay was merely gently tapped into place and there it remained for years and years!!
Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh is another place famous for its intricately carved furniture. Most of the products crafted there are exported.
The chiselled woodcraft of Kerala
One finds the most beautifully sculpted elephant figurines in Kerala. Made usually from teak, rosewood or mahogany, these pay tribute to the natural grace of the elephant in truly artistic form. Temples and churches in Kerala also have a lot of carved wood in use. The antique and antique reproduction trade in Kerala is also thriving. Many a rare piece can be picked up on the quaint old-world streets of Jew Town, Kochi. Apart from entire doors and frames, one comes across cupboards, chairs, tables, and even household articles like huge receptacles for water, etc. With a little imagination these last can and have been converted into innovative pieces of furniture. Wooden boxes in many sizes are also available with and without brass embellishments. Some of the old ones have astutely designed secret chambers and drawers inside them. The fact that these things are in perfect working condition, drawers running smoothly, the wood completely unwarped, etc. is a tribute to the dilegence and perfection of the art that the age old craftsman displayed. A speciality of Kerala is the swing-cot, a large wooden cot that does not have legs but is suspended from the ceiling by means of strong metal chains or wooden cylindrical supports.
The rich carvings of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh
Tamil Nadu is known for its rosewood that has a rose fragrance and sparkling ebony black colour. The ornate rosewood tables of Madurai are very famous. The furniture here has beautiful lines and a sense of luxuriance. Both Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh produce a lot of carved items, including wooden panels that can be used as wall pieces or even, with a bit of imagination, be used as headboards of beds, the back of a couch, etc. One sees a predominant religious theme in these panels. The richness of the colour of the wood gives class to the beautiful workmanship. Also in demand are the rafter corners that one can put up against a wall, with its top running along the base of a beam. Carved pillars are also quite popular. Sometimes these panels, statues, etc are painted. Newer products include table and pedestal lamp bases, trays, bowls, etc.
Woodcraft of Orissa
Orissa has a lot of painted and plain wood carvings, toys, idols, etc. and also wood turned items. These are made from light wood, soft wood called 'gambhari' or white teak. Vegetables and mineral colors are used in painting. Articles in white teak or soft wood are exquisitely carved mainly in Bhubaneshwar, Puri and Cuttack.
The woodware of Kashmir
Kashmir is known for the walnut wood used in handicrafts. Here the handicrafts almost always combines functionality with beauty. Items like fruit baskets, table coasters, key rings, wall pieces for storing keys, hats, and umbrellas, walking sticks, and beautifully carved screens or room partitions, are all made here. The screens are foldable and easy to pack and carry. They come in various sizes too. Another unique art practised here is the enamel work done on light wooden rectangular, circular, oval, parrot-shaped and swan-shaped boxes that gives them a colourful and glossy look.
The carved wooden chests of Himachal pradesh are also noteworthy. As are the handicrafts of brass and copper inlay work, called tarkashi, made by artisans in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The North-Eastern states like Assam, Manipur, nagaland, etc also have wooden handicrafts. Here it is bamboo and cane that is used. The light-weight furniture that can be made form them is highly appreciated. Beautiful products like vases, baskets, utensils, etc. are also made in these places. |
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