Design Resource
Soap Stone Carving - Mysore
The Craft of Soap Stone Carving
by
Prof. Bibhudutta Baral and Antony William
Tools and Raw Materials
Soapstone locally called as Krishna Shila is the basic raw material available in brown, tan, yellow, red, gray, pink, white and black colors. Soapstone can be easily carved due to its soft nature which consists mostly of lac. Soapstone is soft when it is freshly bought from the quarries; later the stone becomes harder after 2 to 3 years. Rough and detailed carvings are done using small number of tools of different sizes such as hammer, chisels-for fine detailed carving, compass and scale for measuring and few automated drilling/hand drills/tools to create intricate designs on the stone. Metal paste is used to coat the carved idol after smoothening as it helps to enhance the glossy finish of the idol.
List of tools used:
- Channi - it is used to give shape of the stone while carving.
- Manevali - Jumper used to give the sharp detailing on the statue.
- Kaiwara - divider used to adjust symmetry of statue.
- Alpas - it is used to flatten the shape.
- Kolower uli - sharp edgedchisel used to carve the ornaments of an idol.
- Molomatta - Scale is used for scaling purpose.
