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Maldives
Arts & Crafts
The beautifully carved tombstones in some of the old cemeteries
and the fine stone carving of the Hukuru Miskiiy in Male’
bear witness to the intricate skills of Maldivian stone
carvers of the past. Maldivians are deft craftsman producing
beautifully crafted pieces mostly out of what is available
locally. Although many of the skills have been passed on
from generation to generation and lives on even today.The
art calligraphy has strong connections with the Islam. Old
and new mosques display beautifully penned versus from the
Holy Quran. The Islamic Center exhibits some of the finest
samples of the work of modern calligraphers in the country.
While many crafts have become obsolete, others have found
new life with the advent of tourism. The production of ornaments
from tortoise shells and black coral once valued by visitors
has now ceased completely because of the growing careness
among the public on the need to preserve the environment.
Wooden Lacquer Ware
Perhaps the most distinctive of the Maldivian handicrafts,
these are almost exlclusively produced in Thulhaadhoo in Baa
Atoll. Liye Laajehun as it is called in Dhivehi involves the
process of shaping and hollowing out pieces of wood to form
beautifully crafted boxes, containers and ornamental objects.
Made from the local funa, (Alexandrian laurel) which grows
abundantly throughout the country, they come in various shapes
and sizes; small pillboxes, vases of various sizes to round
and oval plates with lids. These elegant pieces are lacquered
in strands of red, black and yellow resin and delicately carved
with flowing flowery patterns.
Mats
Beautiful red mats are woven throughout the country, the most
famous of which are those that are woven by the women of Gadhdhoo
in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll. Thundu Kunaa as they are known in Dhivehi
ranges in size from that of a place mat to a full size single
mattress. The women of Gadhdhoo collect the reeds called haa
from the nearby island of Fioari. They are dried in the sun
and stained with natural dyes, the colour varying from fawn
to black. These mats with their intricate abstract designs
are woven on a handloom according to the imagination and skill
of the weaver.
Boat Building
Although the tools used in the building of dhonis have changed,
little has changed of its basic design. As in the past, the
boats are still being built without a documented plan. The
design and symmetry of the boat emerges as the boat is being
built.
Imported hardwoods are used in the place of coconut wood,
which was used in place of coconut wood, which was used in
the past to make the hull. Copper rivets are used to hold
the planks together instead of coir, which was used for the
purpose even half a century ago. The square sail made of coconut
fronds gave way to a triangular lateen sail. Even though this
is still considered essential and is carried on board, it
is used only during emergencies or to ease the strain of the
engines. Almost all Dhonis are driven by diesel power.
Dhonis are mainly used for fishing and provide the livehood
for a large proportion of the population. Others are modified
to be used for transportation of passengers.
A dhoni may be as small as 10ft. (3 m) used mostly to travel
across short distances or to traverse the shallow waters of
the lagoon. Islanders often use these ferry across to nearby
islands for firewood. The average fishing dhoni used to be
around 10 metres (33 feett), however the new generation fishing
vessels can be twice the size or even larger. The basic design
of dhonis has proven to be seaworthy as it has been tested
and tuned for centuries. Even the luxury cruise vessels that
are built in the country uses the same basic hull design and
can be as long as 30 meters (100 feet) or more.
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