COILED CANE CRAFT
Production Clusters
Karimganj district:
Telekhalerpar
Shitapara
Products
Storage container
Boxes
Coasters
Stool
Lamp stand
Lampshade
Tray
Shallow dish
Coiled basketry in ancient civilizations was closely related to
ceremonial rites and also valued for its beauty. In Assam, it is
not as prominent an expression as bamboo basketry. In
Arunachal Pradesh several hill tribes make sturdy hats and
head gear from coiled cane. At Telekhalerpar, the export of
circular, elliptical and rectangular coiled cane products has got
80 families in the village involved in making them and is a
valuable source of employment. Coiling involves binding cane
splits of the jati, sundi, jali and lailu varieties around
a whole cane core and stitching consecutive rows together. The
frequency of the stitching determines the rigidity of the basket.
Three dimensional forms are contoured with great precision and
experience as the craftsmen do not use jigs or moulds though
some furniture pieces are made with a structural frame. The
finished product is essentially coated with varnish or
polyurethane to prevent fungus.
Vase
Sofa
Tools
Dao - bill hook knife
Kuchani - needle with
wooden handle
Metal wedge
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2.
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6.
Detail of a circular base being stitched on a coiled cane container.
Craftsmen in Telekhalerpar make coiled cane products introduced by the export market.
Lamps made for and export market.
Coiled cane container with a lid.
Flat and horizontal surfaces used as table mats are made by coiling in a circular, elliptical and rectangular spiral form.
Cane stools are dexterously made from a continuous coil.
Tools : a. A knife and awl like tool used for guiding the cane splits through the coils of cane.
b. A dao supported on a bamboo frame that is used for splitting cane.