133. Bastar Wooden Craft

Bastar Wooden Craft is one of the most famous, beautiful and unique art of wooden carving of Bastar tribals from Chhattisgarh.  It reflects local mythology, rituals, religion, and folklore in the exquisite shape & forms. The unique raw quality in the finish adds to the rustic appeal of the product. 

The wood craft in Bastar exist from 10th Century A.D (since the existence of tribes). The products made by the artisans of Bastar were for their own use but nowadays they are making it for commercial use. 

The products can be broadly classified into three categories: 

• Decorative Products - Gods and Goddesses, Wall panels, Wild Animals and Birds, Carving Scenes of Village Life, Tribal cultures, Tribal masks, Tribal Folk Dances with tribal Motif etc.

• Furniture with Tribal Motif - Diwan, Sofa Set, Dressing Table, Mirror Frame, Dining Set, Chairs, Doors and Door Panels etc.

• Daily Use Products - Combs, Hairpins, Knives and other kitchen Accessories, Tobacco cases, Musical Instruments, Jewellery boxes etc.

The use of the local mythology and culture was easily noticeable in the arts of the Bastar craftsmen. They emphasized more on their local livelihood technique and used them again and again. 

These wooden crafts are made out of the finest teak wood, sheshum, sagon and shivna wood. 

The basic processes involved in wood carvings are: 

• Sawing and levelling the wood, 

• Splitting the wooden pieces, 

• Painting, Tracing or drawing on wood known as “Nakkashi”, 

• Carving and chiselling out the unwanted portions, 

• Smoothening with sand paper and 

• finally Polishing and finishing. 

Polishing of the article was never done earlier and was given a raw finish. But today these articles are being polished and given very different look

The other type of wood carving is done in the relief technique, in which the artisans chisel the artwork at a significant depth to give a projection effect.

The designs made by these craftsmen are traditional tribal motifs or imaginative designs. These traditional drawings are not exactly proportionate, as a result the final product also may not be in proportion.

The carvings are straightforward and realistic and there is a remarkable absence of geometry design. The geometrical aspect of any product is unique i.e., for example the face was made in a squared shape, which is geometrically incorrect.

GI Tag Registration Date         : 22 April 2008

GI Tag Number                         : 84

Certificate Number                  : 63

Geographical Area                  : Chhattisgarh

Special Cover Release Date   : 05 September 2021

Cancellation                             : Raipur 492 001

Type                                          : GI Tag Cover

Enlarged View of Illustration

Enlarged View of Cancellation

Back Side Scan