SHEESHAMWOOD WIRE INLAY WORK

Product Details

• TARKASHI SHEESHAMWOOD INLAY ART

PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE ART PIECES HAVE BEEN MADE BY NATIONAL AWARDEE

HOW ITS MADE: A Perspective

For years traditional inlay work is done using brass or copper wire and Sheesham wood.

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First a floral pattern is selected and then it is traced onto the wooden using chalk or carbon paper. After this an expert carver is required to carve the wood to create outlines on the pattern.

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These outlines deep enough to correctly wedge the brass wire in the carving.Once the wire is ran through the whole outlined carved pattern, it creates fabulous effect of gold over Sheesham wood.

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Some times metal sheets are also used to create inlay effect on the wood.

Inlay work requires the following raw material:

• Sheesham or other wood
• Metal sheets of copper, brass or silver
• Polishing wax to give finishing after sanding

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A wooden block making requires almost similar efforts such as tracing the pattern on the piece of wood, using chisel and other tools to hand carve the wooden block. Here, no carvers don't use the wires or metal sheets to fill the pattern.

Tools required:

- Cutting machine is used to cut big wooden planks

- Gunia or right angle is used to make the corners correct

- Chimti or forceps are used to make the thin strips of coiled wires straight

- Scissors are used to cut metal sheets into wires

- Sanding stone is used to sand the wood after inlay work before final polishing

- Chisel & hammer are used to carve out the design on the wood

- Scale to measure the motif correctly

History:

India is the birthplace of the traditional art form known as sheeshamwood wire inlay arts. Another name for it is Tarkashi. The process entails inlaying thin, flattened wire made of copper, silver, or brass into wood. Usually, elaborate geometric shapes or floral designs from Mughal arts are inlaid 12.

Taarkashi, which means "wire," is the process of inlaying thin, flattened wire made of silver, copper, or brass into wood. Typically, the inlaid designs are complex geometric shapes or Mughal-era flowers. The method of metal inlay requires great skill and patience.

Rajasthan's ancient palaces and mahals display Tarkashi artwork. These castles feature exquisite ivory inlaid doors with geometric or floral designs. Horse or camel saddles, howdahs, and thrones all include inlay work made with the same high level of workmanship.

Hardwood is used for tarkashi work. Dark-colored, well-seasoned sheesham wood is used in this method. This wood's high oil content makes it possible to hold the inlaid metal firmly. After being sketched on the wood, the designs—which are typically geometric shapes or Mughal-inspired flowers—are carved down to a depth of one millimeter using a half-round chisel and hammer. From sheet metal, thin strips are cut, heated over a flame, cooled to eliminate the strip's temper, and then straightened. With a hammer, the resulting metal strip is pounded into the grooves that were previously made. A feature specific to tarkashi, small coiled dot-like formations known as bhiriyan are pounded straight into wood.

The Safavid era saw a great advancement in the technique of inlay, with artisans producing priceless pieces like as doors, windows, mirror frames, Quran boxes, inlaid boxes, pens and penholders, lanterns, and inlaid-adorned shrines. It is stated that the craftsmen of Jaipur are descended from the skilled laborers of Uttar Pradesh, India.

In the contemporary world, this craft is still highly esteemed. Historically, the artwork was displayed on tables and decorative boxes. These days, the designs can be found on trays, plates, spice boxes, and other practical products.