Page 13 - Oct-Dec 2018

VOL. 15 No. 3

KAsHMIr Wood CArVInGs: A CAse sTUdY

Wood carving came to Kashmir from Iran some 600-700 5. Texture (Sumbh Kadun) – Sumbh is a tool with teeth
years ago. Earlier, carving was mainly done on the walls, like structures, which is used to give texture.
doors, pillars of shrines, mosques. With time, walnut wood 6. After carving, the item undergoes a finishing/polishing
started to be used for making gifts for important people. process. The person engaged with this step is called
The walnut wood is obtained from the walnut tree which Roshngaar. The procedure is as follows:
is locally known as Dhoon Kul. The various steps in wood a. The wood is smoothened with sandpaper to give a
carving are:
dark colour to the product.
1. Inscribing – The motifs are drawn on the wood with b. A solution is applied as a coat, which is prepared by
the help of a pencil. boiling walnut bark in water.
2. Marking/Punching (dagun) – Material is dug out c. Finally, polish is applied with a cotton cloth and left
according to the pencil lines. It is done with the help to dry for 3 to 24 hours.
of a chisel called dagi vaal and a
mallet called thaap. There are five main styles of wood carving –
3. Chiselling (Zameen Kadun) – Undercut (Khokerdar)
Open or Lattice work (Jalidar)
Deep chiselling is done around the Deep carving (Vaboraveth)
motif so as to obtain the required Semi carving (Padri)
depth of the relief. Shallow carving (Sadikaan)
4. giving shape (guzar dun) – Angelina lahori, VI F, Delhi Public School, Sec-45,
Broader outlining of the inner Gurgaon; Shubhangi Vaish, IX A, Pine Hall School,
intricacies within the motif is done, Dehradun; umaima Kidwai, X A, Happy Hours School,
giving it shape. Jodhpur; Manit Sarvasva, VI, India Kids School, udhampur

BeAUTIFUL BoATs

n Shikaras, of Kashmir are boats made of deodar
wood useful for transportation, fishing, and
harvesting aquatic vegetation.

n Uru is a traditional wooden boat used for trading. AMAZInG
Beypore in Kerala is famous for making this boat. ArCHITeCTUre

n Malia boat from Gujarat usually made of sal has Traditional wood carving has existed
two pointed ends with a flat base. It is used for in India from ancient times. The wood
prawn fishing in tidal waters. carvings of Uttarakhand are renowned
n Bombay Machwa is a fishing boat around 15 for their attractive designs. Traditionally,
metres long and 1 metre deep. It has two masts. every house had a wood carved entrance
door, which indicated a person’s
era Raturi, VIII e, Cambridge School, Noida; Ilma Qureshi, X, Pine Hall
School, Dehradun prosperity. In Kerala, teak wood is mainly
used in the construction of temples.
Rajasthan has the very special wooden
jharokhas adorning the walls.
Gunjan Sharma, IX, Pine Hall School, Dehradun;
Roshan Thapa, VIII, Scholars Home Sr. Sec. School,
Dehradun; Khushi Sharma, IX b, Dundlod Vidyapeeth
School, Dundlod; lekhshree Champawat, XII, Happy
Hours School, Jodhpur

Illustration by: Apoorva Sinha, XI, DAV Public School Sec-14, Faridabad
Illustration by: Aaryata Lal, XI, Green Fields School, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi

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