The bronze casting method is one of the earliest techniques discovered by man dating back at least 6000 years and over the years the basic method has changed very little since that time. Craftsmen today, possess some technical advantages over those of past times that include – welding equipment and power tools, efficient gas or oil burners and flexible rubbers for molding. However, still today, the process is heavily dependent upon several hours of skilled labor and remains a ‘low tech, high skill’ art. Swamimalay, Madurai, Mysore, Bangalore and Karkal are important centers for metal casting of images in the south of India. Palitana is an important center in Gujarat for casting Jain images.
Varanasi and Mathura in Uttar Pradesh; Vishnupur near Calcutta, and Balasore and Puri in Orissa, cast images of the deities, Radha and Krishna. Each area is known for its distinctive style of metal- cast images, which are made for the local temples or for worship.
Beads line of embroidery. This craft developed in India in the 19th century because of the influence of the European traders. They bought beads as articles of trade. Unlike other places where the beads are stitched on cloth to form a pattern, here they are used with no backing material at all. A large number of different beads and a needle and thread are the only materials with which the craftsmen create chaklas, door hangings, belts, bags, pot covers and a variety of other things.
The design is woven with the thread and needle. The work is done row by row on a tri-bead system, three beads being taken up at each stitch. On the return row, the stitching of the beads moves one position forward, so that a tight network is created. Usually the background is white with the pattern in different colors. The same motifs are used here as cloth embroidery.
Even though the patterns are of necessity, more geometric than in ordinary embroidery the sense of movement is achieved in ingenious ways—by bending a leg, elongating an arm or by bending to form the reigns of a horse. Kathiawar, in Gujarat is a popular center for this craft.
Carving in India has been experimented and perfected upon various materials like metals, stone, wood, ivory etc. Traditional Indian designs carved into these materials create the most wonderful pieces of artwork.
Kutch is famous for Deep Carving, where a design is carved on the surface of a metal, which has been moulded in to the desired shape and filled with wax. After softening it in fire, the wax is poured out and filled with fresh wax. The procedure is then repeated. Various items like perfume bottles, flower baskets, trays etc. are made this way.
Stone Carving too holds an important place. Ivory, one of the most exquisite of materials has the most intricate of designs carved on its surface. Kerala and Karnataka have a history in carving large works like palace doors, thrones, palanquins and chariots.
Horn Carved materials are used to make items like combs, which apparently is the most common. Traditional combs have gentle carvings on them. Small sized ornamental pins; play items like animal and bird figures, everyday use items like buttons, cigarette cases, little boxes, ashtrays, pen stands and lamps are caved out of horn.
Coconuts are one of the plentitudinous fruits, and lend itself to carving with ease. Thus, useful objects like bowls, vases, teapots etc. are made. Attractive show pieces too are carved out.
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