India is a land of cultural and artistic diversity and abundance. Most of us know Lucknow for its delicious kebabs and Chikankari embroidery. However, did you know that in the narrow lanes of the city, a few artists still practice the 800-year-old art of bone carving? Scroll on to know more about this stunning art form.
800-Year-Old Bone Carving Art Of Lucknow
Actor and travel vlogger Shenaz Treasury was recently in Lucknow and she came across a National Award-winning bone carver there. Intrigued by the art form, she visited and talked to the artist, Jalaluddin Akhtar. She found that he has been all over the world, including countries like Brazil and Korea, to showcase his art form. While talking to him, she discovered that only a handful of artists in Lucknow are now left that are contributing to this century-old art,
They make everything from jewellery to lamps with bones. When Shenaz inquired whose bone they use to make these pieces, they reassured them that they use buffalo bones as it is legally allowed. They further mentioned that these bones are the waste material left behind after the buffalo meat is exported, which would have otherwise been buried.
To make the intricate art pieces, Jalaluddin takes 10-15 days. It is to be noted that the time to make the art piece also depends on its size and type. For example, to make an intricate box, he usually takes 12-13 days. Their collection starts from ₹100 and goes on to ₹2-3 lakhs.
More About This Unique Art Form
Lucknow’s bone carving is a cultural heritage that has been part of the city’s artistic landscape for 800 years now. Jalaluddin’s family, for one, has been in this business for over a century. His collection even has pieces that are older than 600 years! You can shop for pen stands, jewellery, bookmarks, lamps, jewellery boxes, and a lot more from these artists.
Bone carving requires precision and concentration as even one distraction can harm the artist’s fingers. For designing and drilling holes, the artists use special tools that are made from umbrella pins. The art pieces are then cleaned in Hydrogen Peroxide. After that, they are glued together to form the final product.
You can visit their Instagram page here and order art pieces of your choice via DM.
What are your thoughts on this unique bone-carving art of Lucknow? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
Cover Image Courtesy: Instagram/bone_carvingjalaluddeen & Instagram/shenaztreasury
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