Tales of the Bones

A famous line from the movie 'Haider' says that the human skull is always smiling because it finally understands that no matter who the person is in the living. In the dead he only serves one purpose, to become part of the earth. This is the tale of the bones, the tale of a life after death.

Artifacts carved out of bones. Image Source: Gaatha

Bones are what is left of a body after the soul leaves. Bones are made up of 60 per cent inorganic component (hydroxyapatite), 10 per cent water and 30 per cent organic component (proteins), this calcified tissue is responsible for controlling mineral homeostasis, safeguarding critical organs, and giving mechanical support for mobility. Even after all the plants die, all the rivers are dried and the earth lay barren, bones will remain. But there is a tradition that transforms this mortal reminder into a piece of art.

A long lineage of artisans is preserving the ancient art of bone carving. The history of bone carving dates back to prehistoric times when bones and ivory were used to create chests, statues and other items. In the ninth and 10th centuries, India was one of the leading exporters of ivory which was used by royalties in the Middle East and Europe. Currently, the usage of ivory has been banned by the government and bones of dead animals are the only substitute used in this art.

Tools used for bone carving. Image Source: Gaatha

The first step in the carving process is to sort and cut the bones into smaller, manageable pieces. Then these pieces are further shaped using a sandar machine and a traditional tool called Basuli. The outer-most layer or Periosteum is removed in this process. Next, the bones are blanched in a mixture of hot water and soda for a duration of three to four hours to remove the fat and grease from the bones. This process is essential to remove any impurities and build-up from the bones.

The artisan then files down the edges and uses glue to align and join the bones together. These joined pieces are covered with rubber bands to hold them in place and dry out. Once the glue is dried, the artisan takes a small drill to create various patterns and designs. Thereafter, the bones are sprinkled with Hydrogen Peroxide and left in sunlight for six to eight hours. This gives the bones a pearl-white colour.

These pieces are then polished using a buffing machine. The polished pieces are joined together to create various items like lamps, boxes etc. Some pieces are complicated and can only be handmade. These pieces can take weeks or months to complete, as any small mistake could potentially ruin the entire piece. Later, the leftover bone dust is recycled and utilised as farmland fertilizer.

There are several forms of bone carving, some of these forms are Hook bone carving, Dolphin bone carving, Dragon bone carving and Twist bone carving. Hook bone carving is mainly popular in the ethnic group of the Maori tribe from New Zealand. This form involves fish hook carving on pendants, these pendants are believed to bring prosperity and abundance to the people. Twist bone carving does not originate from one particular region and is found in many popular faiths, different sections of bones are joined together with a twist. Dragon and Dolphin bone carving are relatively new forms that employ modern technology such as water jet spray to sculpt modern pieces with laser-sharp accuracy.

But this art comes with a price. According to a study bone carving artisans are at a high risk for musculoskeletal disorders. Because of the bone dust that is emitted during the process, the artisans contract respiratory problems like asthma and in some cases can be fatal. The industry also faced a major setback during the Covid pandemic and the industry was reduced almost by 70 per cent. There is also the issue of less to no demand in India due to religious beliefs. There is a huge potential market abroad but not all artisans have the facilities to sell abroad. The largest market for bone carving is situated in Uttar Pradesh. After the state government decided to ban a large number of slaughterhouses, there has also been a shortage of raw materials.

The dying art of bone carving is an example of the lost handicrafts in the machine world. Many artisans have closed their workshops and have started other businesses. Familial knowledge of bone carving is on the brink of extinction as the new generation is not keen to take up the art. Bone carving is the art of telling stories by reshaping the remains of creatures of this world.