Pakistan is a land of exotic art and traditions, and Crafts are an integral part in the life of an any Pakistann. It has a rich cultural heritage, of which handicrafts form an integral part and involves a wide range of art and handicraft. In Pakistan, mainly, the legacy of handicrafts is passed on from one generation to the other and has flourished over the centuries. May types of wooden handicrafts are produced in Pakistan specifically Sargodha Handicrafts in the province Punjab.

Wooden Spring Tray

“Handicraft” as the name suggests is an art of creating objects or decorative items by hand, by a skilled craftsman. Items involving use of any machinery are not considered handicrafts. That is why each piece of handicraft is unique is presented in aesthetically rich form reflecting the craftsman skill. A master craftsman decorates or carves the wood of a given type to create items with some very simple and minimum tools. Pakistann craftsmen create masterpieces with exotic shapes, patterns, size, colors and textures.

Be it the sculptures inspiring paintings, handcrafted jewelry, decorative items, furniture, beads, utensils, accessories or exquisite woodcraft, Pakistan has it all. Besides, these items, the beautiful wood artifacts like photo frames, toys, dolls, mini temples are also very famous in International markets.

There are ancient cities in Pakistan which house the expert artisans who have inherited the tradition of carving out beautiful statues and handicrafts from different variety of woods.

The range of the products and decorative pieces that can be made from wood is immense. Handcrafted wooden objects are a must, in any Pakistann Home. Skilled craftsmen carve beautiful designs and enhance their beauty by either painting them or decorating them with beautiful jewels or with some kind of inlay work of metal or ivory or any other material.

Wooden furniture, which is one of the handicrafts, is the most exquisite and enchanting item in this world. It is the most popular and profitable item throughout the world., that is the reason for it, to be termed as an effective business product among the masses. Wooden artifacts exhibit a very typical and unique carving. In addition to being decorative items, the wooden handicrafts also have functional value also.

Wooden Ship Sharply and Decently Handcrafted

For wooden furniture, one can have a large number of designs and range to choose from. And the wooden Sculptures are mostly created of God’s and Goddess’s. Sculptures of Ganesha, Lord Shiva, Laxmi etc are an ideal choice to choose from. These sculptures are mostly, carved in different types of wood depending upon individual expertise and liking. Art Engraving is also done on some of these sculptures.

Pakistani and Indian Handicrafts

Wooden Handicraft Introduction

Handicraft, as the name suggests, is the traditional art of creating useful and decorative items entirely by hand. Thus, wooden handicraft is a craft where skilled labor is employed to decorate or carve wood to create items with bare minimum tools. India takes the pride of superlative craftsmanship which reflects the right shades of traditional beauty and style. Important to mention here is the fact that goods involving mass production or machinery are not considered as “Handicraft”.

Types of Handicrafts

Now moving on, we find that wooden handicrafts can be segregated under the following categories. They are:

• Antique Woodcraft
• Wooden furniture
• Wooden Gift Items
• Wooden Kitchen accessories
• Wooden Toys and Games
• Wooden Statues
• Wooden blinds for corporate as well as domestic purposes

Wooden Handicraft Industry

Pakistan and India is one of the chief exporters of wooden handicrafts in the global market. The factors that have added to the benefit of this industry from India’s perspective are:

• A low capital investment and other resources
• Scope of employment for about six million artisans (becoming the second largest employment provider after agriculture)
• Scope of earning for the women folk, who, constitute a large section of the handicrafts industry

Information about Wooden Handicraft Suppliers

Each state mentioned have a unique workmanship which add to the value of that product from that region. The Pakistan and Indian states which contribute to the growth of this sector are:

• Sargodha, Pakistan
  
• Sialkot, Pakistan
  
• Arunachal Pradesh
• Rajasthan
• Gujarat
• Madhya Pradesh
• West Bengal
• Karnataka
• Andhra Pradesh
• Tamil Nadu
• Kashmir

Apart from these states and the related business centre, many B2B market places have emerged to eradicate the gap between demand and supply. At the very click of the mouse, an array of suppliers and manufacturers line up to satisfy every individual need.Right from antique handicrafts, wooden furniture designs to kitchen accessories and gift items, these market places have the solution to every problem.

Conclusion:- The Indian craftsmen of each state create these handicrafts using wood that is available locally. Some of the the most common varieties used to make Indian handicrafts are:

• Teak,
• Sheesham,
• Sal,
• Oak,
• Mango,
• Ebony and
• Mahogany

Worth mentioning here is the fact that Sandalwood, rosewood and walnut are the exotic varieties and are highly expensive raw materials. Hence, they are used in producing very niche and high end furniture and decorative items.Although, Decentralization of this sector, perennial Deforestation, Lack of Infrastructure and Working Capital, and above all Poor Marketing Strategies have been a major concern in the growth and development of this sector, one cannot deny the following landmarks too:

• Pakistan and Indian Wooden Handicrafts has emerged as one of the major sources of foreign exchange earnings for both countries Pakistan and India
• Considered to be an important export commodity for Pakistan and India
• India’s handicraft exports show a consistent increase of sixteen per cent every year