The Soul of Wood: Celebrating India’s GI Craft Heritage
History
You know, wood tools were used for the first time during the Stone Age. Over time, humans learned various survival skills, and wood became an important resource for us. It was used as fuel for heaters and for cooking, for building shelter.
Definitely the most important natural resource.
Apart from the role in the survival of humans, early civilizations prove that Wood is used widely in art and craft worldwide. Woodcraft practices were found across ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and China. Indian woodcraft also has a rich history. Crafts from ancient times are still alive in many parts of the country.
A Legacy Rooted in Nature and Devotion
India is a country where natural resources are treated as God. We celebrate our resources during festivals, cultural ceremonies, and traditions. As we learned that wood is goated natural resource, it has been ingrained with our culture and tradition for centuries.
We used wood for various sacred purposes. We built temples, carved idols out of wood, our rituals include uses of wood as burning sacred fire. and offerings, everything connected with woods.
Artisans across India produced brilliant artwork by carving woods, Etikoppaka Toys from Andhra Pradesh renowned for unique lacquerware crafts made from fine-grained Ankudu wood, Channapatna lacquerware of Karnataka, shines with natural colors derived from vegetable dyes and Saharanpur wood carvings is popular for their unique designs and pattern.
For protecting and safeguarding these crafts from copying or unfair trade, the Government recognizes these craft with GI tag. Some popular GI wood crafts are:
GI Wood Crafts
Channapatna Toys & Dolls
Channapatna artisans create toys and dolls that blend traditional Indian craftsmanship with contemporary designs. These colorful, safe toys are made from environmentally friendly materials and reflect Channapatna’s cultural heritage. With their vibrant colors and detailed patterns, they provide joy and imagination, making them perfect gifts for oneself or others.
Chitrakoot Wooden Craft & Toys
Chitrakoot Wooden Craft & Toys showcases India’s artisanal heritage through eco-friendly, handcrafted creations. These toys feature intricate designs and vibrant colors, making them ideal gifts or collectibles.
Etikoppaka Toys
The vibrant Etikoppaka toys, handcrafted from sustainable wood and natural dyes in Andhra Pradesh, reflect a rich cultural heritage. These uniquely designed toys not only stimulate creativity and fine motor skills in children but also offer an engaging way to connect with Indian traditions. They encourage screen-free imaginative play, support local artisans in preserving traditional crafts, and contribute to sustainable livelihoods.
Kashmir Walnut Wood Carving
Artisans in Kashmir emphasize their rich craft heritage by creating detailed walnut wood carvings. They sculpt unique furniture and decorative items using high-quality wood. The intricate designs feature floral and geometric patterns. Finished products are polished to enhance the wood’s natural beauty, showcasing the artisans’ skill and cultural legacy.
Saharanpur Wood Crafts
Saharanpur Wood Craft reflects India’s rich cultural heritage through skilled artisans who create intricate designs on high-quality wood. These durable and functional pieces enhance any interior while embodying the spirit of India. Each carved item carries its own story, linking the observer to the timeless traditions of Indian artistry and craftsmanship.
Varanasi Wooden Lacquerware &Toys
Varanasi wooden toys showcase the creativity of local craftsmen, using natural dyes from local woods. These toys often depict animals, birds, or mythological figures and are made with traditional tools, ensuring they are light, durable, and safe for children. The craft is passed down through generations, representing India’s cultural heritage.
Challenges, Process and Creation
Making wood crafts or anything out of wood is not easy. Woodcraft needs the knowledge and skill of artisans. Some woods are perishable; to make them survive for a long period, processes like seasoning of wood or chemical treatments are necessary. Many renowned wood crafts are only possible today because of artisans and their years of preserved knowledge.
Wood carving is a rigorous process; it requires precision with utmost attention from the craftsman. The method of production can broadly be divided into five stages: Seasoning, chemical treatment, Carving, Polishing, and Finishing.
Woodcarving: Shaping life out of wood
This is the most challenging part in wood crafts, carving design and pattern with hands takes time, creativity, and knowledge of the right tools like knives or chisels.
Every region in India has its own design patterns, some carve motifs, floral or geometric, many carve different pieces of wood and combine together to make one piece of wood craft. To make it ready for the market, the last stage of wooden craft requires polishing with wax or oil. Any sharp edges are later corrected with fine touch-up.
Diverse Country, Diverse Crafts Techniques
From small villages to the oldest cities, Jammu and Kashmir to Andaman and Nicobar, wood crafts represent their identity and heritage.
Tools and Utility items: To make tools like comb or spoon, fine cutting of wood is required. Rajouri Chikri Wood Craft of Jammu is one of the specialists in making these kinds of utility items.
Game and Sports: Kashmir Willow Bat is worldwide popular for its durability and exquisite craftsmanship.
Metal Fusion: Surat Sadeli Craft is a handicraft where metal work is done on wooden surfaces.
Wood Crafted Toys: Etikoppaka toys and Channapatna Toys & Dolls are renowned examples in Toy wood craft.
Sustainability: Safeguarding Nature with Wood Crafts
Wood is a bio product of nature, and we are using it from early civilizations. Renewable and environmentally friendly, the two most important characteristics of wood, which makes it perfect for the current era, as sustainability is one main SDG goal.
Wood-made crafts are important for nature. There are so many products we can easily replace with wood made products. We are already noticing the shift in many countries where sustainable products are getting popularised among the public. The most relevant example of this is in the use of paper bags.
Not only paper bags, but wood also made furniture, art-pieces, and utility items are getting popular among eco-conscious buyers. Our government also re-cognises these sustainable crafts with GI tag or ODOP initiative. For example, Saharanpur wood craft is recognized with GI Tag and ODOP.
Woodcrafts Economy: Representing Country and Craftsman
Artisans cannot source raw materials from different places. Only locally available trees are used for crafting. As time passes, these crafts become part of our lifestyle, culture, and tradition. Millions of families depend on wood crafting across nations.
The major economy of places like Saharnapur, Channapatna and many other small villages depend on the wood crafts industry. Businesses run because of goods produced by artisans from these places. Some crafts sell at a global level, which contributes to the economy of the country.
Preserving the Past, Inspiring Tomorrow
We discussed the importance of wood crafts, and we know India is blessed with extraordinary wood crafts. All these crafts represent us globally, we should be proud and honoured to have these amazing crafting techniques, which are so rooted in our culture and tradition.
Artpieces, Utilities, Toys, and Furniture, all these products are available in plastic. Not only available, widely used, and popular. We must take the initiative to educate the general people about wood crafts, rich history, and its relevance for today. Protecting and safeguarding these crafts is a need of the hour.
FAQs
1. What inspired craftsmen to choose wood for their arts and crafts?
Nature, Artisan are mostly inspired by the beauty of nature, and woods are perfect to use as a medium to display art and creativity.
2. What are the processes involved in wood crafting?
Seasoning and chemical treatments of wood are necessary before the actual art carving. These processes enhance wood quality, making it durable enough for prolonged use.
3. Which Tree wood is mostly used in wood crafting?
Indian Rosewood, Teak Wood, and Sal Wood are mainly used in wood crafting, as they are superior and ideal for wood crafting.
4. What are the different techniques that are still preserved by artisans?
In India, many regions still carry their woodcraft heritage from generations. Saharanpur and Kashmir, where artisans chisel floral and jali (lattice) patterns for making artistic furniture. In Channapatna, where artisans used cylindrical pieces of wood for creating unique toys.
5. What makes wood crafts important in modern spaces, as 3d printing might be our future?
Wood made crafts are sustainable and ecofriendly. Modern space needs something that connects us to nature, and wood crafts are perfect to remind us of the importance of the environment.
