Tarkashi - Pilakhuwa

Uttar Pradesh has several craft clusters that work with wood using various techniques. Wood Carving, Brass/metal inlay in wood or Tarkashi and carved wooden blocks for printing and other purposes. In these clusters, artisans have been working with wood for centuries with the craft being handed over from one generation to the other. The hands craft intricate and fine detailing to create products whose designs include vine leaf patterns, geometric and figurative cravings.

In its contemporary form, other materials like wrought iron, ceramic and glass are also getting combined with wood. A wide range of wood types is used to make products - sheesham for small items, teakwood for furniture and mango for antique items. And all of them go through the same basic steps - slicing, carving, inlaying, sanding, polishing and assembling. Most of the craftsmen specialize in one of these processes. So each product is actually handcrafted by not one but many hands.

The Tarkashi craft normally involves fine inlay work with brass wire, strips and motifs with dots and patterned lines and the wooden products are still influenced by handwork carving with hand tools.