The craft of coconut shell carving in West Bengal started as an adaptation of the celebrated conch shell carving. The technique and the tools used for the craft are the same as that of conch shell carving. However, the product range of coconut shell ranges from teapots to bangles and ornaments, and from bowls to replicas of terracotta temples of Bishnupur. There was a scarcity in supply of conch shells in West Bengal during the 1980s, and hence their prices soared. Craftsmen adapted their skills to carve coconut shells and also wood apple shells.
Arts & Crafts