Bone carving is an art of carving the animal bones or horns and creating intricate pieces of art work. Lucknow since the times of Nawabs has been an important center for ivory or bone carving. Ivory carving or bone carving is considered as one of the luxurious craft and therefore got patronized by the royals. The craft is practiced in Rajasthan, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Lucknow. In Lucknow the craft is being practiced in many neighboring places like Mandiao thanna, Barabanki, Mahila Raiganj etc. Camel or buffalo bone is purchased from the market. Initially the upper layer is removed and then bone is cut using basuli. Bone is further shaped on a buffing machine. Cut pieces of bone are boiled in hot water and soda for 3-4 hours. The bone is dipped in the solution of hydrogen peroxide and kept in sun for 6-7 hours. Cut pieces are sticked together with the help of an adhesive. Design patterns are marked using prakar and drill. Artisans do the intricate carving on the bone with the help of fine chisels. Finally the product is buffed, polished and painted if required.
For more details:
http://dsource.in/resource/bone-carving-lucknow