The Art of Bone Carving: A Timeless Tradition
Bone carving can be traced back to prehistoric times in India, where artisans have been turning buffalo bones into works of art since at least the 16th century. Initially, royals would commission works like these in ivory, but with the scarcity of materials and legal restraints, the craft has evolved to use alternative materials.
- In Lucknow, India, a group of bone carvers continues to practice this traditional craft, despite the challenges they face.
- Jalaluddin, a skilled bone carver, has enough stock to last him six months, which he obtains from butchers instead of the once widely available giant warehouses.
- He learned the art from his uncle, and it has been in his family for over 50 years, with the industry changing significantly over time.
The process of bone carving involves cutting the bones into smaller pieces, shaving them down with an electric sander, and then boiling them with baking soda. The pieces are then glued together to form a lampshade, and Jalaluddin uses a drill press to create intricate designs.
- The Akhtar family, who are also bone carvers, say that the scarcity of materials and legal restraints have pushed many artisans away from the craft.
- However, they continue to practice and innovate, with Jalaluddin winning a national award in 2012 and showcasing his work in Brazil.
- The government has also initiated programs to save the art, including paying for students to attend classes and for artisans to teach them.
Despite the challenges, the Akhtar family has developed new designs, such as a lamp that sells for around 12,000 Indian rupees (approximately $200). They export most of their products to foreign customers, including a rare and expensive perfume holder made from camel bone, which they crafted 30 years ago and recently sold for $1,200 to an art collector.
Key Vocabulary
| Term | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Prehistoric | Relating to or denoting the period of time before written records existed. | Bone carving can be traced back to prehistoric times in India. |
| Artisans | Workers in a skilled trade, especially one that involves making things by hand. | In Lucknow, India, a group of bone carvers continues to practice this traditional craft. |
| Commission | The act of giving a formal order or instruction to do something. | Royals would commission works like these in ivory. |
| Scarcity | A state of insufficient supply or shortage. | The scarcity of materials and legal restraints have pushed many artisans away from the craft. |
| Innovate | To introduce new or original ideas, methods, or products. | However, they continue to practice and innovate, with Jalaluddin winning a national award in 2012. |
| Intricate | Having many complicatedly arranged parts or details. | Jalaluddin uses a drill press to create intricate designs. |
| Initiated | To start or begin something. | The government has also initiated programs to save the art. |
| Export | To send goods or services to another country for sale. | They export most of their products to foreign customers. |
| Perfume holder | A container designed to hold a perfume bottle. | A rare and expensive perfume holder made from camel bone, which they crafted 30 years ago. |
| Art collector | A person who collects and preserves works of art. | They recently sold the perfume holder for $1,200 to an art collector. |
| Drill press | A machine tool used for drilling precise holes in various materials. | Jalaluddin uses a drill press to create intricate designs. |
| Electric sander | A power tool used for smoothing surfaces by abrasion with sandpaper. | The process of bone carving involves cutting the bones into smaller pieces, shaving them down with an electric sander. |
How Bone Carvers In India Are Keeping A Prehistoric Art Alive | Still Standing | Business Insider 🎓
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Grammar Focus
Grammar Focus: The Present Perfect Tense
The present perfect tense is used to describe an action that started in the past and continues up to the present moment, or an action that happened at an unspecified time in the past and has a connection to the present. It is formed using the present tense of the auxiliary verb ‘has’ or ‘have’ and the past participle of the main verb. For example, ‘has been’ is used with singular subjects, while ‘have been’ is used with plural subjects.
In the context of the provided text, the present perfect tense is used in sentences such as ‘the craft has evolved to use alternative materials’ and ‘the industry has changed significantly over time’. The present perfect continuous tense is also used, as seen in ‘a group of bone carvers continues to practice this traditional craft’, although the main verb ‘continues’ is in the present simple, the idea of an action in progress is related to the present perfect continuous.
