Wood Print Block
Hand carved shesham-wood print block from India. Each is
one-of-a-kind and designs are often unique to particular regions.
Nearly a lost art, this handcrafted work will soon disappear, being
replaced by automated web presses and silk screening processes. It
is only a growing appreciation of this craft in urban and export
markets that is keeping it alive.
The block carving process is tedious and demands an exceptional degree
of skilled craftsmanship. The most skilled artisan in a block making
shop, often the owner, will work on a piece such as this one.
A block starts out as a planed slice of shesham wood. The design is traced on to the wood's planed surface. The wood is then chiseled to the depth of a third of an inch. The precision that a master block maker achieves with his meager arsenal of hammer and chisel is truly extraordinary.
Comments and faves
lunawicc (34 months ago | reply)
Beautiful. Have you ever seen the hands of the carvers? They acquire quite large callouses on their fingers and the sides of their hands.
FernShade (34 months ago | reply)
I was privileged, a few years ago, to accompany a textile group to see artisans create an amazing diversity of prints, using mordant dye processes. It was such a surprise to see the simple, almost primitive hand-tools they use to carve these beauties, the tools all in a little wooden box, handed down from one generation to the next. The patience, and...to me, the most wonderful....the pride they took in their work, were inspiring. We could learn so much from them.
Aditi-the-Stargazer (34 months ago | reply)
Nice shot. I looked at this, and thought - "Oh this looks so Indian" only to find out that it indeed is Indian! Where did you see this?
FernShade (34 months ago | reply)
Thank you, Aditi-the-Stargazer! I'm fortunate enough to own this beautiful work of art. There's a textile company in Vancouver who deal directly with the artisans in the villages to ensure they receive fair compensation for their creations; the local store sells textiles and all the supplies for creating textiles, runs workshops, and has established a Foundation to support artisans in creating economic self-sufficiency. It was on one of their trips I got my treasured print block - it never ceases to be a source of delight!
lunawicc (34 months ago | reply)
Fiona, would this be Maiwa......Charlotte is a very dear friend of mine, as is her mother Dorothy and her two beautiful children.
~ Mane ~ (33 months ago | reply)
this is amazing! I haven't seen the print yet (if it exists) and I really want to see the final result!
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Give me printmaking... and stencil !, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Bonnetmaker, Devine KW, Bead Fancy, Birgit Deubner, and 2 other people added this photo to their favorites.
FernShade (14 months ago | reply)
Thank you so much, ~Mane~ ... I've always looked on this treasure as a work of art in itself, so haven't actually used it for printing but may eventually!
Fashion Jewelry Sources (11 months ago | reply)
Come to China, we have lots of these wooden arts.
MD Studio, kaitschott, conjunto universo, and naricorina added this photo to their favorites.