rohit jangid artist

                                    Rohit Jangid Artist                                                                                                               artist                  (Sandalwood Carving Artist )

Rohit Jangid

Rohit was also very young when he

began to learn the traditional art of

miniature carving from his father. Unlike

his brother, Rohit is still studying.

Although near graduation, he cannot

dedicate to carving full-time just yet.

He does, however, have a record in the

Indian Book of Records for making a

wooden house-fly and some national

and local records for the same piece.

In order to get his work seen, he

participates in national and some local

art and craft exhibitions.

Rohit tells us: “I like miniature work in

my art and we – the Jangids – are the

only people who make these kind of

carving products with scenes in flipped

lids. All scenes have their own story.”

Rohit loves it when people are surprised

as he shows them his work and then

he opens the lids, to scenes they don’t

Rohit Jangid

expect to see in such tiny shells.

“Miniature carving involves engraving

the wood on the contours of the design

with the utmost care. We make many

of our own small tools according to our

needs: small iron sticks, knives, chisels

and some tools for filing,” he tells us.

Looking to the future, he continues:

“We work at home, so I will definitely

teach this work to my future children and

then, if they want to go with any other

profession, I will support them.”

Rohit tells us that he also had the

choice to take another profession, but

he picked carving for his life’s work. He

feels that if people are forced to do a

profession they can’t do to their best

ability, it’s best to teach them a skill and

then they can continue the work if they

want. Should his children want to do

otherwise, Rohit tells us he will always

be there to support them.

Inspiration

Mahesh and his sons draw inspiration

for their miniaturised wooden carvings

from history, mythology and day-to-day

life in India. Their work is accomplished

with the most basic and often handmade

tools applied with the meticulous care

of a filigree artist.

The most typical woods used for

ornamental and inlay work in India

are walnut (Juglans regia), rosewood

(Dalbergia latifolia), ebony (Diospyros

spp.), teak (Tectonia grandis), sal (Shorea

robusta) and sandalwood (Santalum

album). The Jangid family works almost

exclusively in sandalwood, due to its

malleable characteristics and delicate

natural fragrance. Mahesh explains:

Mahesh’s

sitar carving

“Sandalwood is the most conducive

medium for our particular craft because

it is softer than most types of wood and

easier for us to work with.”

Methods

Their highly intricate designs are created

by using a combination of carving

methods, such as deep carving, shallow

carving, latticework and fretwork on

a nearly impossible miniature scale. In

fact, each carver has a place in the Limca

Book of Records for their miniatures.

Mahesh for his tiny 91-link woodcarved

chain; Mohit for the smallest playable

violin and Rohit for the smallest carved

house-fly. In addition to their individual

carvings, they collaborate together on

many of their projects: “All three of us

work together as a team,” Rohit tells us,

and he explains that they list the price of

their pieces from $200-1,7000.

One of the unique aspects of the

work that Mahesh and his sons produce

are the pockets that pull out to reveal

tiny figurines and vignettes inside:

“We are the only ones here who make

carvings with miniature scenes in flip out

compartments,” says Rohit. “I like how

surprised people are when I open the

lids and show them these tiny scenes.

They don’t expect something like that.”

Mohit enjoys making the miniature

scenes the best: “I think the addition

of these miniature carvings is most

important to our work because it makes

all of our items more interesting and

attractive.”