The art of bone carving is dying a slow death

Lahore: Bone carving is an art which dates back to the prehistoric times. Camel bone has been carved into jewelry and combs mounted in silver in India in the ancient days. 

Bone sculpting having started from the elephant’s teeth in India’s Lal Qila came to Pakistan with the likes of Shahnawaz Khan mastering this art. While speaking to ARY News, Shahnawaz said, “No one can pay me the price of what I do.”

Having spent 51 years of his life carving the bones of bulls and camels into exquisite pieces of art, Shahnawaz says that there is no value of his art in his own country, “My art pieces go to Mexico, Chile, Italy but I don’t get anything for it and people earn dollars for it over there.”

Worried over bone sculpting taking its last few breaths in Pakistan, Shahnawaz fears if not given immediate attention this art is going to die with him, “If for this work the government gives me a small place, I can pass it on, otherwise this work is going to end with me.”