Mysuru: Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, Southern Regional Centre (IGRMS-SRC), Wellington House, Irwin Road, has displayed Chettiar Mara Sirpam (wood craft of Chettinadu region) from Tamil Nadu as part of its Exhibit of the Month.
Mara Sirpam — Wooden horse rider — is the decorative object particularly in Chettinadu community. The wood carving is famous in Chettinadu region which is promptly applied in their architectural patterns like doors, ceilings and other wooden structures.
Generally Burma wood or teak wood is used for carvings. The rider or protagonist on horse is carved meticulously, and can be seen from two sides. And under the feet of horse, a demon holding sword along with an identified animal is also carved. The carvings symbolically show the cult of hero worship.
ABOUT CHETTINADU ART
Chettiar or Chetti is a title used by various mercantile, agricultural and land owning castes in South India, especially in the States of Tamil Nadu. Chettinadu is the home of Nattukottai Chettiars (Nagarathar), a prosperous banking and oil business community residing in the region of Chettinadu in two districts of Sivaganga and Pudukottai of Tamil Nadu.
Karaikudi is known as capital of Chettinadu which includes several villages. The place is often publicised as a temple town in the region which comprises mainly in Karaikudi and a cluster of 96 surrounding villages. But in course of time, the number of villages have been reduced to 73 villages.
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, many residents of Chettinadu migrated to South and Southeast Asia, particularly Ceylon and Burma. The community is organised around 9 clan temples, each member of the Chettiar community belongs to a clan and each clan has its own temple. They have Ayyanar shrines and Mariamman temples.
Chettinadu is rich in art and architecture and is well-known for its houses embellished with marble and Burma teak, wide courtyards, spacious rooms. Local legends tell that their walls were used to be polished with a paste made out of egg whites to give a smooth texture.
The art and craft of Chettinadu is distinctive, the wood carving through its carved roof gables, lathe-turned columns, carved window and decorated wooden ceilings.
The front door of the each household has carvings of Hindu deities and auspicious motifs like the hamsa, swan, padma, poornakumbha, Kamadenu etc. The other carved wooden items include small shrines and deities.
Nice Article About Mysore. Thanks for writing such a good article on wooden furniture and wood carving facts. wood carving is a art or science please always try to ask such type of questions. I am looking to try these tips for my modern carving wooden furniture company and on my website birchi.in People always try direct method of wood carving facts but most of time these trick don’t works so I think it is sciance more than Art. What you think about?. Your tips will be helpful for the person to make good wood carving and carved wooden furniture items.
Nice Article About Mysore. Thanks for writing such a good article on wooden furniture and wood carving facts. wood carving is a art or science please always try to ask such type of questions. I am looking to try these tips for my modern carving wooden furniture company and on my website birchi.in People always try direct method of wood carving facts but most of time these trick don’t works so I think it is sciance more than Art. What you think about?. Your tips will be helpful for the person to make good wood carving and carved wooden furniture items.