Wood Crafts

Woodcraft has given a new definition to home- furnishing in India. The Matsya Purana says that every home should have a beautifully carved doorframe in wood as a sign of welcome to visitors. Carved lintels, brackets and balconies are found in traditional homes in many parts of the country.

Since time immemorial, wood has been used to make utensils. In Himachal Pradesh water pitchers and bowls are made out wood. In Kashmir, walnut wood is used making trays, fruit bowls etc. Storage receptacles are made in wood in many regions. Gujarat, in particular, has a rich tradition of wood-carving. Here, in addition to small chairs and tables, the swing, without which no traditional home is complete, is made. Wood lacquering is popular in Karnataka and Maharashtra. Traditional woodwork like painted cradles, boxes and ganjifa and the set of playing cards, are painted with religious and mythological figures.

Wood inlay, which developed and flourished with the Mughal influence, is done with bits of ivory, plastic, horn, metal pieces or other types of wood into carved surfaces of wooden items. This is found in various parts of the country such as Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. The Mughal designs of Uttar Pradesh such as the fretwork, jali or the anguri work are also very popular.

Rare woods have special uses. Ebony and rosewood are carved into trinket boxes in Uttar Pradesh, while in Karnataka they are inlaid with ivory. Hand fans made here from thin slivers of sandalwood spread aroma in the room. In Gujarat inlay has become applique work and mosaic designs are built up from strips of different kinds of wood first glued together and then thinly sliced. The architecture too is famous. It is elaborate and elegant with its projected balconies, decorative windows and doors. The beautiful traditional homes of Kerala, built with teakwood are brilliant pieces of architecture. These retain their quality for decades together.

The soft toned elegant walnut wood and the fine deodar wood are found in Kashmir. The lattice- work and the Khatamband works are famous. The fragrant sandalwood in Karnataka is used for carving out intricate pieces that captivate the eyes. The red sandalwood of Andhra Pradesh is used to carve idols, deities and dolls.

The woodwork of the north-eastern tribes is locally known as kumisyng. The huge log drum is noteworthy in this region. The wood carvings of the tribal areas of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa and Rajasthan include doors, window frames, "marriage-litters", wedding pillars, tobacco cases and pipes.

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