Eco-Friendly Coconut Craft
Coconut is one type of resourceful fruit and has a high economic value. Coconut is one type of multipurpose fruit whose entire tree has many benefits for humans that include from the roots, leaves and fruit itself. Coconut trees have many benefits. Apart from used as raw material for Coconut oil and food, the coconut shells also have potential economic values but are rarely processed further. Coconut shells are leftovers from coconut. Coconut craft is primarily practiced where coconut is grown in abundance. Making craft from coconut shells are not new as coconut shells were ordinarily used for fuel, beverage container, Substitute for a spoon, etc. in south India. With time there is an improvement in tools, people skills, and knowledge that leads to making varieties of products and decorative articles by cutting or carving coconut shells.
Coconut craft is mostly manufactured in south Indian states where one can find a high number of coconut trees. The Indian States like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Andaman Nicobar Islands, few parts of Bengal, Pondicherry and other coastal states have skilled artisans for making coconut crafts. In the tribal belt of Bastar, Chhattisgarh due to the availability of coconut, artisans design patterns in white metal are layered in the shell and cut to make bangles. Kerala owns the abundance of coconuts. The coconut tree is widely grown all over Kerala. It is believed that as a craft, coconut shell carving could have been practiced by craftsmen from the Vishwakarma community in Kerala.
Calicut, Trivandrum, Attingal, Neyyatinkara and Quilandy in Kozhikode are the Primary regions of Coconut shell craft.
Coconut shell and woodcraft has gained popularity only in the last few decades and hence does not have a long history to boast of. It could be that the wood carving artisans from the Middle East and Persia were the first ones to try carving on coconut shells. This craft is also prevalent in other countries such as Cambodia, Thailand, Philippines, Java Island, Maldives and Sri Lanka.
Coconut farmers instead of throwing the coconut shells, sell it to the market. Shells are also available in different sizes. Artisans buy these shells to make different products out of it.
Tools are mainly used to remove coconut husk, sanding machine for smoothening the shell surface, brush to cleaning inner part of the shell, Lathe machine for wood cutting, etc. To make crafts, few selected shells are carefully selected for use. As per the attributes of products, artisans select single or joint Coconut shells to design the product. These products are also painted with different colors to make them look attractive.
Products from coconut shells are Flower vases, Snuff boxes, Cups, Spoons, Ice cream Cups, tea sets, toys, and key chains, etc. are developed by artisans. Jewelry items are also developed from coconuts such as earrings, ear drops, necklaces, bangles, hairpins, and pendant. Brass broidered coconut shell products are also gaining in popularity. Buttons for shirts are also made from small pieces of Coconut shells which have long been used by the southern part of India.
Although Coconut shells craft is an eco-friendly and bio-degradable craft, It is still unknown to the world. There is a lot of potentials to develop this craft but, artisans are lacking in knowledge and proper guidance. Lots of intervention can be done in terms of design, marketing and Skills. This craft is sustainable in many forms and with proper initiatives from the Government, could result in far better outcomes for the society by and large.
Comments
Post a Comment