Traditional craftsmanship
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Sankheda Nu Lakh Kam: Lacquered turned wood furniture of Sankheda
Sankheda furniture is made of teakwood and painted in traditional colors of gold, silver, maroon, green, vermilion, and brown. This is a craft tradition so inherent in the collective identity of the practitioners that their town is named after it. Sankheda, in eastern Gujarat derives its name from 'sanghedu' meaning lathe in Gujarati. The process involves cutting teakwood pieces in specific sizes and then giving these shapes on a lathe. After shaping and smoothening, ornamental designs are made on this with a brush. There is a wide range of furniture items produced including child's cradles, child's walkers to chairs, tables, and large swings, a response unique to tropical and humid climate.
Source IGNCA Inventory of ICH, Janapada Sampada Division, IGNCA
Contributed by Prarthana Borah, CEE Ahmedabad
Silver & Filigree Works
Silverware of Odisha are very widely known. Here Filigree works particularly are unique examples of artistic excellence rarely to be seen in any other part of India. Cuttack is world famous for Filigree work. Silver wires, extremely delicate, are shaped into intricate designs. Forms of animals and birds, articles of daily use like vermilion receptacles are also made out of silver wires. Filigree ornaments, especially brooches and earrings are very popular among Indian women. Scenes from the 'Mahabharat' are sometimes depicted in silver in particular interest is the chariot of Arjuna driven by Lord Krishna done in silver.
Stone Carving
Stone carving is an age-old craft of Odisha. The descendants of the artisans who once scaled the dizzy heights of excellence in temple building have kept the sculptural tradition alive through their hereditary craft of stone carving.
Stone Carving of Chhattisgarh
The pink and white stone available in Bastar, Chattisgarh called sudapaal is soft and easily carved. Large tool called basulas are used for cutting the stone. Pataasis or chisels of various shapes and sizes are used for finer carvings.
Stonecraft of Tamil Nadu
Through the ages the best talent in stone craftsmenship went into stone carving of images and structures made for the temples by hereditary sthapatis belonging to the Vishwakarma community of Tamil Nadu.
Sujuni
Sujuni is the word that Bihari women use for a running stitch embroidery on layered cloth, made as a quilt to give family members on the occasion of weddings or births. Women traditionally made sujuni in their homes, layering worn-out old saris and stitching them with coloured threads and embroidering into them scenes from their village life.