Udayagiri Wooden Cutlery

Our home is an extension of us! We like to decorate our homes with art and things that we hold close to our hearts. But did you know that items of daily utility are turned into art worthy items in Udayagiri in Andhra Pradesh? The products are mostly sold for gifting and as table decor.The handicraft of Udayagiri, Nellore, is known for its intricate and fine hand carving. This craft probably originated during the Quli Qutub Shah Dynasty and was passed down through generations over time. The other theory is that the origin of the craft dates back to the 14th century, during the rule of Gajapathi Kings, and later it was patronised by the rulers of the Vijayanagara Empire.Although the art lost its popularity for a brief period in the interim, the Nawabs and Jagirs’ rule in 18th and 19th century led to its revival, with people from the Muslim community preparing the cutlery from the wood available around the forests of Udayagiri. History suggests that this craft most probably originated around 120 years ago but came into limelight only around 11 years ago. The art was earlier practised by both men and women but slowly it is becoming a female-centric craft.In recent times, no one knew of its existence until the government revived this art by bringing up this art by training artists and providing them a platform to market their ware. This cutlery craft known for its intricate carvings create products like spoons and forks, paper cutters and hairclips.Persian motifs and forms are carved onto Nardi wood which is soft and easy to hand carve. It is found quite easily in the nearby Durgampalli hills in Udayagiri. Other woods used by artisans are Kalai and Devdari, Bikki Chakka, Kaldi chakka or Palabarki wood. Nardi is the most preferred because it is very soft and easy to handle. Bigger spoons and forks are made out of harder wood called Kaldi. They are used to serve curry and rice..Their hand tools are very basic in nature such as Churi ka samaan (narrow files), Vanky (curved scooper), Uli (chisel), Bosala (axe), Rethi ka samaan (flat file), Gol kadi (round filers) and the saw. The hand tools are manufactured in Udayagiri. The tools are replaced after every 20 products. Nowadays mechanised tools like drills, lathe, jigsaw machines, grinder, sanding machine, circular saw machine and surface planer machines are provided by the government. These machines are only used to cut and shape the product.The essence of the craft lies in its intricacy and geometric patterns. Regular utility products are elevated with beautiful forms and designs. A few patterns that serve as an identification of this craft are amini, kangure, khajuri and dargah ki jaali. This beautiful art has existed for over a century but due to modernisation, the craft is slowly losing its originality. The artisans have been working on mostly modern designs offlate. Mostly the products are sold to Lepakshi and other famous handicraft marketing chains. This delicate art was recognised by the government and was also given the Geographical Identification tag in 2015.Let’s support this art and the artists. Spruce up your home with these pretty pieces that can add charm to your dining ware!