Deep in the villages of Madhya Pradesh, the ring of hammer on iron carries a blacksmithing tradition unmatched in skill and inventiveness, its methods passed from one generation to the next. Drawing on these inherited techniques, artisans give iron many singular forms. The craft begins at local mines, where iron ore is drawn from the ground, after which the blacksmiths work the metal into all manner of shapes and outlines.
The Gond, Muria, Bhatra and Dhruva tribes keep the custom of offering the gods horses, swings, “trishuls” and other iron objects in gratitude for wishes fulfilled. Another tradition sees daughters given finely decorated “deeyas” for their wedding. Keeping pace with changing times and the tastes of buyers, artisans today create a wide range of objects, from birds and carved deeyas to candlesticks, grilles, furniture, lamps and delicate decorative pieces, and each item becomes a work of art, letting the craft flourish once again.
Tribal figurines have taken a special place in contemporary interior design, and tribal masters have won the recognition they rightly deserve.