Despite of having a rich historical background, horn craft is less known in India. It has a vast range of products and almost every part is useful, eco- friendly and unique in its kind. Locally known as “Seengh ka kaam” in the town of Sarai Tareen, which is a small town situated 4km away from Sambhal city. It is famous for Horn and bone craft. And the craft work was initiated by Mohd. Rasheed Lala , and now his son Mohd. Shahnawaz is continuing to serve and not letting the craft die.
ORIGIN OF CRAFT
The ancient voyagers over a hunt found the buffalo horns to be hollow and discovered its utility as a carrier of water while the solid horns became trovel of use due to light weight , it opened more avenues of usage and uptill the industrial revolution , a vast range of horn products came into existence.
CRAFT IN ITS OWN
A buffalo horn , considered a waste , is aptly used to make beautiful crafts such as buttons, jewellery , cutlery, showpieces and even more . Larger sized horns are used as honkers during British reign horns were used for carrying gunpowder . Nowadays , people use it for interior decoration like on door panels and wall tiles.
THE RANGE OF PRODUCTS OF HORN ARTISTRY –
- Powder Horn
- Cutlery
- Jewellery
- Whistles
- Handles
- Buttons
- Decorated Horns
- Wall Tiles
- Combos
MATERIALS
Raw materials : solid horns , hollow horns and timber
Processing materials : coal used for heating before flattening
Finishing materials: araldite – pasting element , lathe – polishing agent
Technologies : cutting and flattening drilling and polishing colouring- by hydrogen torch
Tools – electric cutter hydrogen torch press
PROCEDURE
- Horns are removed from bulls and buffaloes at the slaughter house.
- Horns are then purchased by different warehouses.
- Extended skull bones are removed from the horns.
- horns are segregated into solid and hollow horns.
- Horns are cleaned and sundried .
- Horns loose their odour upon drying.
POTENTIALS
- It uses almost all of its residue .
- Powder generated is used as manure.
- Gives employment to a large no. of people.
- Its eco- friendly.
- Its not seasonal.
- Has a vast variety of products .
CONSTRAINTS
- Horn dust effects the respiratory system of workers.
- less durable than synthetic items.
- In india market is weak.
- High demand may lead to unrestricted slaughtering of animals.
REFERENCES
- ‘Sambhal – A Historical Survey’ written by – Sankhdher B.M.
- ‘Indian Crafts’ – Develpoment And Potentials written by – D. N. Saraf
- Mr. Suhel Subhani – Al Hamdd Trading Post, Meerut
- I would also like to thank my friends Humair Subhani , Tushar Mondal And Gaurav Varshney for helping me out with the field study and data collection.
