Monday, August 07, 2006

Rosewood Crafts From Kerala

By Gijo George

Kerala has got a rich tradition in handicraft making. Generation after generation this tradition is carried forward. Kerala's artisans are talented and are rich in ideas. Their products represents kerala's beauty and heritage. Kathakali head, Elephant, Coconut monkey etc are best examples of this.

For many years rosewood is considered as the best medium to carve handicrafts. This wood has got immence strength and sustainability compared to other types of woods. The items made out of rosewood is very durable and long lasting.

Most of these crafts are carved by master craftsmen who have years of experience and they learnt these techniques traditionally. Generation after generation these craft making techniques are passed. Machines are used rarely. Most of the works are done by hands only. The shape of the final product is completely dependent on craftsman's prior planning and experience. Apart from rosewood, other types of mediums are also used in carving. Coconut shell is one of such medium. A wide variety of items are created from Coconut shell (like coconut monkey, pen stand etc). These products are admired all over the world for their beauty and craftsmanship.

Visit www.woodcurio.com to browse some of these beautiful products.