| The wood history Woodcarving is an art and India | | | | etc are also highly decorated over here. |
| has been a traditional producer of woodcarving | | | | Also each region of Woodcraft in Punjab is into |
| furniture for ages. Production of woodcarving is | | | | making carved legs of beds and manjis and |
| developed on a commercial scale, which is carried | | | | boxes. Gwalior, Sheopur-Kalan, Rewa and Budhni |
| out by many Indian artisans from generation to | | | | are main centers of wood lacquering. Uttar |
| generation. India has abundant collection of | | | | Pradesh has many craft centers engaged in |
| woodcarved furniture, out of which some has | | | | making different items out of wood. Mainpuri is |
| been explored and a lot remains to be discovered. | | | | famous for woodwork on ebony or black |
| It has a rich old heritage to crown its head which | | | | sheesham inlaid with brass wire. Banaras is known |
| is believed to be the oldest heritage of the world. | | | | for lacquered toys and miniature utensils for |
| This has been adored and preserved by the | | | | children to play with. India is the second largest |
| Indians since time immemorial. The exquisite | | | | supplier of bamboo and West Bengal is known for |
| furniture range comes in various styles with | | | | its creativity and artisans of the State specialized |
| varying designs, finishes, colors, shapes etc. The | | | | in creating everyday and fancy articles from |
| designs and the carvings may be etched on the | | | | bamboo and cane. Cane and Bamboo occupy a |
| back or front, which gives a remarkable and | | | | distinctive place in the life of Tripura too. Furniture |
| pleasing appearance. The use of high quality wood | | | | made of cane; Baskets knitted out of cane and |
| enhances the overall functional value and visual | | | | bamboo strips are some of the well-known craft |
| appeal of furniture. In the beginning, shisham was | | | | produce from the Tripura, which are always on |
| the only wood used by handicraftsmen. | | | | demand. Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu too, |
| Thereafter some ingenious craftsmen | | | | have their distinct wood carving traditions. |
| experimented with teakwood from Nepal and | | | | Karnataka is famous for carvings and decorative |
| Assam, ebonite from Assam and rosewood from | | | | pieces made from sandalwood. Sandalwood items |
| the South. | | | | like, boxes, trays, key chains, small figurines are |
| Struggle for survival forced the wood carving | | | | not only carved tastefully but they also give out |
| industry to pass through many critical phases. | | | | subtle smell of sandal. West Bengal and Kerala are |
| Changing scenario of industry turned the | | | | known for items made from the wood obtained |
| craftsmen to many other varieties of woods. | | | | from coconut tree. Great prospects for Indian |
| Besides traditional shisham, wood craftsmen have | | | | wooden furniture in the foreign markets The |
| now been using many other varieties of wood | | | | Indian furniture industry is a non- organized sector |
| depending upon the suitability of texture, colour, | | | | with the production of Handicraft accounting to |
| grains of wood for particular job. For deep | | | | around 85%. The furniture industry is estimated |
| under-cutting and sculptural effect teak, rosewood | | | | to provide employment to around 300,000 |
| and walnut are preferred. For low relief, shisham | | | | workers in India. As a rural and cottage industry, |
| and deodar is used and for incised design ebony | | | | it provides employment to lakhs of people from |
| are considered. Rohira, sal, babul, etc are coarse | | | | the weaker sections of society. The skill of the |
| grained and hard wood used for bold work. Haldu | | | | wood workers of India is not only restricted to |
| and dudhi are used for special polychromatic | | | | domestic use but has gain immense popularity in |
| effects. | | | | the foreign export markets. The industry has |
| Other most common species of wood being used | | | | extended to the fashioning of panels, cabinets, |
| by the craftsmen these days are mango wood, | | | | doors, windows, temples and furniture. |
| tun wood, neem wood, sal wood, jamun wood, | | | | The taste of the people are moving more |
| rohira etc. Woodcraft of Saharanpur is famous all | | | | towards the antique kind of furniture and a |
| over the world for its elegance and beauty. | | | | variety of experiments are been carried out with |
| Saharanpur is known for vine-leaf patterns on | | | | designs by the Indian artisans to cleverly blend |
| Sheesham wood. Floral, geometric and figurative | | | | the traditional and modern woodcraft items suiting |
| carving is also done here with wood inlay work. | | | | today's decor. Exquisite designs, attractive colors, |
| Woodworks industry in the North Eastern region | | | | unmatched workmanship and subtle elegance are |
| is scattered and the production is confined to a | | | | the distinguishing features, which have put Indian |
| few items only in a few states. Gujarat has a rich | | | | hand crafted furniture on world map. Steadily |
| culture for such carving and in addition to small | | | | climbing the popularity chart the market potential |
| chairs and tables, the swing, without which no | | | | for furniture has reached approximately to US" |
| traditional home is complete, is made. Wood inlay, | | | | 240,007.40 million in 2005. This sector has more |
| which developed and flourished during the Mughal | | | | potential for earning substantial foreign exchange. |
| rule, is done with bits of ivory, plastic, horn, metal | | | | Low capital investments, higher value addition and |
| pieces or other types of wood into carved | | | | highly labor intensive are highlights that make the |
| surfaces of wooden items. | | | | sector significant for the country's economy. |
| This kind is found in various parts of the country | | | | These items found good market in Central |
| such as Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and | | | | European countries, United States of America, |
| Delhi. Designs of Uttar Pradesh such as the | | | | England, Russia and UAE. Japan, Sri Lanka and |
| fretwork, jali or the anguri work are also very | | | | Myanmar has also emerged as new consumers |
| popular. The wood carvers of Madhya Pradesh, | | | | for the country. Central and State governments |
| with great sensitivity and skill transform different | | | | have been paying extraordinary attention to |
| varieties of wood such as shish, teak, dhudi, sal | | | | ensure high growth rate and development of this |
| and kikar into works of art. Madhya Pradesh is | | | | industry. They are also proving funds to many |
| famous for painted and lacquered wood product | | | | small businesses to help them flourish in the |
| such as toys, boxes, bedposts, cradles posts, | | | | market. Also the Indian government is |
| flower vases etc. Kashmir is the only state in | | | | continuously taking steps to minimize entry-exit |
| India, where Walnut trees and Fine Deodar wood | | | | barriers for foreign companies. Liberal policies for |
| are found. The craftsmen here create intricate | | | | foreign equity participation and foreign direct |
| carvings on wood obtained from the walnut tree | | | | investments have given a further boost to the |
| which is used to make furniture items like tables, | | | | sector. Woodcraft has played its part in making |
| chairs, stools, partitions, trays, book stands, wall | | | | the Indian handicraft fortune wealthier and inspite |
| decorations, fruit bowls etc that have rich floral | | | | of many environment prevention issues the |
| and trellis patterns carved on them. Rajasthan has | | | | prospect of the hand crafted furniture sector in |
| its own unique wood tradition, Barmer is well | | | | India seems positive. |
| known for carved furniture. Some furniture pieces | | | | India presents a favorable outlook to sell this kind |
| in Barmer like tables, low stools etc has miniature | | | | of furniture and one expects this sector to grow |
| paintings on them. Carved wood items such as | | | | further in the coming years. |
| cabinets, screens, chairs, tables, almirahs, racks | | | | |