Banaras Wood Carving refers to the unique carving work practiced in Varanasi during the ancient time on Ivory, after the Government had banned ivory as raw material; the artisans had shifted Wood carving. Since, then the same artisans have shifted to wood carving for creation of these exclusive crafts and have become much popular across the world for their unique human skill.
The most common varieties of wood used for this craft are Sandalowood, Kaima or Haldu, Keria, teak, sal, oak, ebony, mango, sheesham, etc. Wood carving is a time consuming process. Small items of carved wooden handicrafts may take a week to be made. Large items requiring elaborate carving may take few months for their manufacture. Wooden logs are sourced from nearby areas such as the jungles of Chitrakoot and Sonebhadra.
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Banaras Wood Carving is practiced predominantly in Varanasi and it is practiced also in Mirzapur, Sonbhadra and Chandauli district in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The product has a rural touch or depicts village landscape; religion and cultural theme are generally depicted through various wooden products.
It is the artistic practice of shaping and decorating wooden objects into diverse utilitarian handicrafts, items related to temple articles and decorative pieces which are much popular since generations. Miniature wood carving statues is a specialty in Banaras wood carving and these are completely made by hand with the use of traditional tools.
The artisans are also using the traditional tools and some time these artisans are developing the tools with local Blacksmith artisans. The designs and motifs are very traditional with minute details like floral motifs, shikargah, different type of leafs, Mughal designs and stories like – life of Buddha, Radha-Krishna dancing pattern motifs and many type of traditional designs.
Varanasi artisans has an excellent example with a combination of wood carving and metal repousee work with the use of Silver, Copper, Brass for making different type of Singhasan, Chairs, Chaukath, Doors panel, Wall plates and Hauda of elephants. First the wood carver makes the complete wooden carved Singhasan then after that the metal repoussé artisans work on it with the silver sheet on the upper portion of the product according to the design.
The Wooden carving can be classified into following categories- religious, cultural, animals & birds, and traditional and modern. All these themes are treated in a different way, for example in Religious theme exhibit Indian motifs and patterns. These also tell mythological and religious stories of their time.
The cultural theme shows the classes of society, the daily lifestyle and activity of the people in rural India and also some profession which were popular in ancient India. Whereas, the modern have modern patterns and themes.
GI Tag Registration Date : 14 September 2021
GI Tag Number : 623
Certificate Number : 397
Geographical Area : Uttar Pradesh
Special Cover Release Date : 23 May 2022
Cancellation : Varanasi 221 001
Type : GI Tag Cover
Cover Identification Number : UP/06/2022
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