A cluster is defined as a geographic concentration (a city/town/few adjacent village and their adjoining areas) of units producing near similar products and facing common opportunities and threats. An artisan cluster is defined as geographically concentrated (mostly in villages/townships) household units producing handicraft/handloom products. In a typical cluster, such producers often belong to a traditional community, producing the long-established products for generations. Indeed, many artisan clusters are centuries old Artisan.

About Natchiarkoil Cluster:-

Natchiarkoil Cluster falls under Tamilnadu State in Madurai district.

The Natchiarkoil cluster is able to form 440 plus Artisans & 21 SHGs supporting the strong work force. The mobilization gains momentum day by day.

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Metal Craft:-

Metal wire inlay work, tarakashi, initially originated in Mainpuri in UP. It flourished under the patronage of Nawabs. Initially it was used for khadaon (wooden sandals).

Inlay is a means of ornamentation of a surface by setting of other materials into it. In wood inlay mainly brass or copper wires are used. The designs are traditional, depicting flora, fauna and geometrical patterns including the varieties of the jali designs.With the ban on ivory, the plastic sheets began to be used as inlay material. In Mainpuri tradition copper, brass and silver wire were twisted together, beaten with the hammer and flattened before inlaying. This gave three colour design specs on the inlayed surface.

Raw Materials:-

Basic Material : Ebony wood, shisham wood.
Decorative Material : Brass wire, copper wire, ivory, plastic.

Tools:-

Hand saw, flammer, chisel, wooden mallet, files.

Process:-

Inlay is a means of ornamentation of a surface by the setting of other materials into it. Mainly brass or copper wires are used in wood inlay. After cutting the wood from a bigger block in the desired size, a pattern originally traced on a paper, is transferred onto the wood. Copper or brass metal is beaten into thin sheets and cut into fine wire. The design traced on the wooden surface is incised with the aid of a hammer and chisel which is held lightly and tapped with a mallet. The brass or copper wire is hammered into the engraved portion of the design. If ivory is to be inlaid, then, ivory pieces of required shape and size are cut by a saw and fixed with glue at the desired places in the design. After inlay with brass wire or ivory, the wood is smoothened with a file and polished to give a better finish.

Techniques:-

1. Inlay

2. Cutting

3. Smoothing

4. Polished

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How to Reach:

By Air:

 
Madurai houses its own airport, which is situated 10 km away from the city center. There are daily flights from Madurai to Chennai, Bangalore, Tiruchi and Coimbatore.  

By Road :-

Madurai is approximately 447 km from Chennai, 128 km from Tiruchirapalli, and 435 km from Bangalore There are excellent roads connecting Madurai to all the major cities in South India. With as many as 5 major bus stands, the city offers comfortable travel by road. Many private operators ply AC and non-AC deluxe and sleeper coaches from Chennai to Madurai. In case you plan to travel by car, take NH45 to Madurai, via Tindivanam, Trichy and Dindigul. An alternative route will take you to Trichy, via NH45. From there, take NH45B to Madurai, via Melur.

By Train:-

Madurai, being an important pilgrimage site and the seat of Madurai Kamraj University, has a railways station of its own. In fact, the city serves as an important railway junction of the Southern Railway. It falls on the Madurai-Tiruchirappalli-Dindigul-Quilon route and is well connected with Chennai, Bangalore, Tiruchy, Palakkad and Tirunelveli.