Horn, Bone, Ivory Carving of Uttar Pradesh

Ivory or bone carving is the art of carving animal bones or horns into intricate designs. Lucknow has been an important centre for ivory or bone carving since the time of the Nawabs. Skilled artisans used to create decorative and practical items for Awadh’s Nawabs. Because of this patronage by the Nawabs, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, emerged as a major centre of ivory carving.

Following the ivory ban, artisans have been carving with great skill on camel and buffalo bone. Thakurganj is a small neighbourhood in which a number of artisans perform bone carving in the immediate vicinity of their homes. The art of bone carving is dominated by the Muslim population, who have been doing so for generations. However, in recent years, a few Hindu communities have also learned the craft.