An Analysis of Traditional Household Wood Crafts of Manipur
Keywords:
Traditional household wood crafts, tribal art and craft, role of museum, ethnic culture of Manipur etc.Abstract
Wooden artifacts are a worthy part of material culture in Manipur. The people of Manipur are well known for their mastery of pottery making, bamboo and cane craft, weaving and textile, wood carving, etc. Different types of ethnic groups and Manipuri communities have contributed to the art and culture of Manipur. There are thirty-three (33) different tribes inhabited in the hill areas. Wooden artifacts are mostly found in the villages of Senapati District, Ukhrul District, Tamenglong District, and Bishnupur District of Manipur. A variety of wood crafts are now preserved in different museums which are run by the state government and private agencies. These museums are the storehouses of different kinds of art and cultural antiquities. The wood crafts are also representing the material culture of the state which has different functions on different occasions. This paper deals with the household wooden artifacts of Manipur with references to some museum collections.