Design Resource
Traditional Stone Carving - Khadirampura
Making of Idols - Hospet, Karnataka
by
Prof. Bibhudutta Baral,Divyadarshan C. S. and Lija M. G.
Making Process
To the mass of rock the center straight line is drawn, to which the figure of the idol to be carved is drawn with a sketch pen such that the figure is at proportion on both sides. After the outline of the figure is completed it is then hammered lightly with a flat chisel to enhance its outlines.
Further the stones are alternately chiseled with the help of flat, pointed chisels to obtain the impression of the Idol to be made. It is further hammered more hardly with toothed, flat, pointed chisels to remove out the extra stone materials that is not required.
After the extras are removed the detail part of the carving is done part by part with care, like the jewellery, dress material, postures of the hands, legs etc. For the removal of smaller portions it is filed with the hand files. As the Idol carving comes to the finishing stages, sand paper is used to obtain the smooth finish of the surface. In some cases to obtain the black coloured Idols cheraenae (locally called) is applied to the Idols especially like Black Krishna Shilae.
Flow Chart of Making Process:
