CHENNAI: Thammampatti wood carving, which is a signature artwork of artisans in Salem region, is set to become Tamil Nadu’s 36th geographical indication (GI) product.
The GI registry’s recognition for the unique wood-carved idols of Hindu gods, mythological events and stories, door designs, door panels and temple doors comes on a joint application made by Silpa Gramam Thammampatti Wood Carver’s Artisans Welfare Association and Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited (Poompuhar).
Incidentally, it is the 24th GI product initiated by IPR attorney P Sanjai Gandhi, who is also Tamil Nadu government’s nodal officer for GI scheme.
As for the proof origin and history of the product, the registry was informed that the oddar community had attained mastery in the wood carving art and the intricate technical knowledge is passed down to generations of wood carvers by legacy. It has been thriving in Salem area for more than 75 years, and Thammampatti Shri Ugra Kathali Lakshmi Narashimha Swamy’s temple car was made by them in 1948.
The artisans use woods such as thoongavaagai (samaneasaman) found in agricultural lands, vaagai (albizzia lebbek) which has a natural lustre, mavilangai (crataeve roxburch) which grows on edges of rivers and lakes, atti (ficus glometrea), which is a large deciduous tree having smooth white bark best suited for ornamental purpose and temple vahanas, and teak which is a hard wood usually brown in colour with good grains and texture.
At present, Thammampatti artisans mould their traditional style as per the need and choice of customers. The carvings are regularly displayed in the Salem District Pavilion at the All India Tourist Fair in Madras. They are also being exported for household decorations abroad.
Tamil Nadu is the only state to have a nodal officer for GI scheme though the Union ministry of commerce had called upon all states to appoint nodal officers to promote GI registration of native products.
The GI registry’s recognition for the unique wood-carved idols of Hindu gods, mythological events and stories, door designs, door panels and temple doors comes on a joint application made by Silpa Gramam Thammampatti Wood Carver’s Artisans Welfare Association and Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited (Poompuhar).
Incidentally, it is the 24th GI product initiated by IPR attorney P Sanjai Gandhi, who is also Tamil Nadu government’s nodal officer for GI scheme.
As for the proof origin and history of the product, the registry was informed that the oddar community had attained mastery in the wood carving art and the intricate technical knowledge is passed down to generations of wood carvers by legacy. It has been thriving in Salem area for more than 75 years, and Thammampatti Shri Ugra Kathali Lakshmi Narashimha Swamy’s temple car was made by them in 1948.
The artisans use woods such as thoongavaagai (samaneasaman) found in agricultural lands, vaagai (albizzia lebbek) which has a natural lustre, mavilangai (crataeve roxburch) which grows on edges of rivers and lakes, atti (ficus glometrea), which is a large deciduous tree having smooth white bark best suited for ornamental purpose and temple vahanas, and teak which is a hard wood usually brown in colour with good grains and texture.
At present, Thammampatti artisans mould their traditional style as per the need and choice of customers. The carvings are regularly displayed in the Salem District Pavilion at the All India Tourist Fair in Madras. They are also being exported for household decorations abroad.
Tamil Nadu is the only state to have a nodal officer for GI scheme though the Union ministry of commerce had called upon all states to appoint nodal officers to promote GI registration of native products.
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