Pethapur Block Making
Blocks made in Pethapur are carved out exclusively from Teak wood (Tectona grandis), known to locals as Saag or Saagwan, that grows in Gujarat's deciduous forests, notably around Surat and Valsad. Teak is an excellent choice for most woodworking applications and the best suited for blockmaking by a long stretch.
The wood has a natural golden yellow color that turns darker and darker over time, from light brown initially to almost black with age, elevating the block's appearance. The wood strikes an outstanding balance between hardness and durability on the one hand and ease of working with chiseling tools on the other since there are no fibers in it. This is an important quality since the almost wafer-thin edges on some designs cannot be achieved if the wood is too soft and harder woods are difficult to carve delicate designs out of.
An unpolished block of raw teak wood that has been dried for use in block-making. The wood has a golden-yellow color as is characteristic of wood that has been dried but is not too old. One may notice that the wood was cut from a tree that was fairly old and mature. The wider the spacings of the rings, the better the wood is for carving. Craftspersons also selecct wood depending on the fineness of the designs. The denser the grain of the wood, the more intricate the designs can be. The wood must also have as few cracks or holes as possible.
The wood also contains natural oils, which give the wood more than just a pleasant smell. The natural oil repels insects and limits the amount of water the wood absorbs, keeping it from warping during the printing process. That, along with the wood's hardness, lends to its durability, making blocks suitable for printing over thousands of cycles and many, many years. The wood has to be wrapped and stored for a year or more to dry before it can be used.
In the past, craftsmen procured timber coming from Valsad's forests, which were famous for quality Teak wood, and from those around Surat. Craftsmen also used to have a cooperative society that purchased wood for the community at competitive prices, but no such cooperative exists in the present day.
Due to government regulations on lumbering, the rising price of timber, and a shortage of teak in the market, procuring fresh wood for the blocks has become difficult. However, master craftsman Govindbhai Prajapati has maintained a carefully stored stockpile of fresh wood over the years. However, the new norm is to procure teak at auctions of wood salvaged from the demolition of old buildings, which is how the majority of craftsmen procure their wood at the moment. Wood salvaged from these old buildings is naturally dried over the years, making it perfect for block-making. It can perhaps be considered a more ecologically sustainable source of raw material for the craft.
