Indian wooden printing block Leaves

Indian wooden block printing

Ancestral Indian art and heritage of hand printing on fabric begins with the manufacture of blocks. These blocks, whose size can vary from 2 to 15 cm, are made of wood. Two kinds of wood are frequently used, the Sheesham (teak) and the Rosewood. The patterns are drawn on a block of wood and carved by expert hands with rudimentary tools (a hammer and a chisel).

These Indian patterns are floral, like lotus, mangoes but also animals, such as elephants and peacocks.

These blocks come from Sanganer in India (near Jaipur city), one of the most famous villages for printing and manufacture of the blocks. They can be used not only for printing on fabrics but also to decorate envelopes, letters, papers, etc..