| (Wood
is the infrastructure of any house built in ancient
Kathmandu architecture. Kathmandu is full of houses
with woodwork as the main or the only decorations
in them. The beautiful pillars, windows (tikijhya
and sajhya), doors, and tudals found in temples,
shelter homes, palaces, etc. stand out as the models
of woodcraft seen in the Kathmandu Valley. The skills
of many woodworkers in Kathmandu like the Silpakars
and Kasthakars have been handed down through their
ancestral lineage. But, whether sculpting a big
frame or carving a small showpiece, these woodworkers
have to work through proper steps.) |
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Seasoning
the wood is very important before one works
on it. Previously, the woods were dried
under the sun but nowadays the process is
done in big seasoning machines. The required
size is cut from the big chunks.
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The
woodworkers choose the designs, which
are still highly adapted from the ancient
monuments and religious texts, to use
on their work. |
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These
designs are sketched on a paper. |
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The
paper, usually chart paper or hard paper
is cut so that the outline only remains.
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One
of these copies is pasted or the exact
sketch is drawn on a plain surface of
a wood block. |
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Types
and colors of wood {There are many types
of woods used for different purposes
in Kathmandu since the Malla period.
Woods like Agrath (dark brown), Sissau
(Dalbergia sissoo), and Sushi are very
hard woods. These hard woods are specially
selected the pillars and window and
door frames. Due to its hardness, only
simple and large carvings are sculptured
in them. Daar, champ (Michelia champaca),
and halu (yellow) are highly preferred
for sculptures and intricate carvings
for they are soft and are easily sculpted.
Daar, quite expensive and rare nowadays,
is the best for small details and are
sculpted with chisels without any hammering.}
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After
the outline of the design is cut from
the wood block, the actual carvings
of the design is started. |
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The
tools that are used: modern. |
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The
tools that are used: traditional |
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Chose
up of some tools |
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First
chiseling, large chisel |
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Then
fine tuning. Different shapes are sculpted
with chisels until they are finely rendered. |
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The
surface is smoothened using sandpapers.
Usually a coarse surfaced sandpaper
is applied but to prevent any damages
of delicate parts like fingers and noses,
a smooth sandpaper is slowly used. |
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Painting
the sculpture. A mixture of spirit,
chapra, and any other color as black
or chocolate colors is used to polish
the wood. At least two or three coats
of polish are applied.
Haldu (Adina cordifolia) |
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COLLECTIBLES