|
|
Kashmir is the only state in India, where walnut trees grow. The craftsmen here create intricate carvings on wood obtained from the walnut tree. Furniture items like tables, chairs, stools, partitions etc have rich floral and trellis patterns carved on them. Carving done on walnut is either deep or shallow. Items like tables, fruit trays and bowls etc are also decorated with inlay work. Wax polishing is done on finished products, so that the beauty of the wood grain is not lost. Rajasthan is known for articles and decorative objects made from locally obtained wood. Each region of Rajasthan has its own unique wood tradition. Barmer is well known for carved furniture. Some furniture pieces like tables , low stools etc have miniature paintings on them. Carved wood items such as cabinets, screens, chairs , tables, almirahs, racks etc are highly ornate. Rajasthan is also known for wood figurines in the shape of animals, which are beautified with inlay work. Exquisite jali or latticework is also produced here. Craftsmen of Rajasthan also make delicately carved figures of deities on rosewood and sandalwood.
Woodcraft in Punjab is restricted to making of carved legs of beds and manjis and boxes.
|
Craftsmen from Madhya Pradesh
use a variety of wood like shisham, teak, dhudi,
sal and kikar for making household items. Woodcraft
from the tribal belt of Bastar is known for figures
of tribal deities, carved wooden memorials, masks
etc. Madhya Pradesh is also famous for painted
and lacquered wood product such as toys, boxes,
bedposts, cradles posts, flower vases etc. Gwalior,
Sheopur-Kalan, Rewa and Budhni are main centers
of wood lacquering Uttar Pradesh has many craft
centers engaged in making different items out
of wood. Saharanpur is known for vine-leaf patterns
on Sheesham wood. Floral, geometric and figurative
carving is also done here with wood inlay work.
Inlay work is done with bone and plastic as ivory
is banned in India. Mainpuri is famous for woodwork
on ebony or black sheesham inlaid with brass wire.
Banaras is known for lacquered toys and miniature
utensils for children to play with.
Woodwork from Andhra Pradesh is varied. Kondapalli
is known for brightly painted wooden
toys , while Etikopakka is known for wood
lacquer ware.
Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil nadu too, have their
distinct wood carving traditions. Karnataka is
famous for carvings and decorative pieces made
from sandalwood. Sandalwood items like, boxes,
trays, key chains, small figurines are not only
carved tastefully but they also give out subtle
smell of sandal.
West Bengal and Kerala are known for items made from the wood obtained from coconut tree.
Locally available woods serve a very important purpose in the north eastern and other hilly areas of the country. Here woods are used for making tree houses and other form of houses. Wooden houses are convenient for living in these areas as it is the ideal material to suit the climatic condition prevalent in these areas.
|