 History & Tradition
Stone was amongst the first material used
by prehistoric man to create tools. Though
items made from stone gave way to, items
made from metal, stone continued to be one
of the preferred material for making sculptures.
The stone-carving tradition in India is
one of the richest in the world. Guilds
of masons and stone carvers have existed
here since the 7th century B.C. The skills
were handed down as family lore from father
to son, a practice prevalent in some parts
of the country even today. India has a rich tradition of stonework,
as is evident from temples in Khajuraho,
Konark, Martand in Kashmir and Ellora etc,
which have richly carved sculptures and
relief work on them. Large temple complexes
of Ramashwaram, Dilwara and Tirupati not
only are marvels in stone, but they reflect
a high degree of sophistication reached
by craftsmen engaged in stone craft.
Stone craft in India is not only restricted
to ornate carvings on temples or sculptures
of deities, but it is also used in making
items like carved panels, tiles, paper weights,
pen stands, models of historical buildings,
sculptures of animals and humans etc.
Different and varied stone crafts exist
in different parts of India: Different types of stones like, marble,
soapstone, sand stone etc are used by craftsmen
in India. Large blocks of stone are quarried
and then taken to various craft centers.
The basic design is traced on the stone
and it is given a crude shape. The final
carving is then carried out and the items
are polished.
Madhya Pradesh has a rich tradition of stone
craft. Gwalior is known for jali (lattice)
work. Animal and human figures are created
in Jabalpur and Tikamgarh. The tribal region
of Bastar is well known for sculptures of
tribal gods and memorial pillars.
In Andhra Pradesh the main centers of stone
craft are Durgi, Allagadda and Tirupati.
These centers excel in making of intricately
carved figures of gods and goddesses. The
craftsmen here strictly follow ancient rules
pertaining to carving and making sculptures.
Gujarat is known for marble sculptures from
Ambaji. Rural areas of Bihar are known for
utensils made from black stone.
Rajasthan has the best marble and sandstone
quarries in India. The craftsmen here have
an age-old tradition of carving and making
sculptures. The marble quarry of Makrana
has contributed to making of Taj Mahal at
Agra and marble from here is also used in
the making of exquisite Dilwara Jain temples
at Mt Abu. The craftsmen here follow the
rules laid down in Shilpa-shastra, while
creating images of gods and deities.
Jaipur is the center of marble carving
in Rajasthan. Craftsmen, not only create
figures of deities, but also make household
items like bowls, trays, items for kneading
dough etc. Ajmer, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner
and Jaipur are main centers of jali making.
Tamilnadu, Karnataka and Orissa are also
famous for figurines and items made from
stone. The craftsmen from Orissa use soft
soapstone to make finely carved sculptures
of gods and goddesses.
Uttar Pradesh has many craft centers engaged
in making different items from stone. Hamirpur
district is known for statues made from
locally available red soft stone. The raida
community of Banaras, is responsible for
making a range of marble items include tableware,
plates, glasses bowls, food containers,
candle stands, etc. Agra is famous for its
intricate marble inlay work, drawing inspiration
from the Taj Mahal. Floral and geometric
patterns dominate designs created here.
Popular items include models of Taj, bowls,
boxes, lamps, vases and pitchers. Intricately
carved friezes, panels and trellis or jali
work done in exquisite designs is a specialty
of this place. Vrindavan and Mathura are
popular for alabaster work. At times alabaster
items are studded with precious stones.
Jhansi region known for a dark brown stone,
spotted with yellow. Lamp stands, pastel,
incense stick holders are made out of this
stone.
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