The History of Bengal (Vol. I: Hindu Period; Vol. II: Muslim Period 1200–1757) v1.c19.s7.28

v1.c19.s7.28

Two other categories of craftsmen were the workers in stone and wood. The numerous pre-Muhammadan stone images discovered in Bengal (cf. Chs. XIII, XIV) and the beautifully engraved inscriptions on stone slabs bear eloquent testimony both to the volume and skill of the stone-carvers' profession. It has been suggested that the black chlorite stone, out of which most of these images were carved, was probably obtained from the Rajmahal Hills and carried in boats to the different centres of the sculptor's art in the province.¹ Incidentally, this throws light on an important article of internal trade. Alongside stone-carving, wood-carving and carpentry also appear to have been practised on an extensive scale, although owing to the perishable nature of wood only a few architectural specimens of wood-carving of the pre-Muhammadan period have come down to us (supra p. 515). It seems evident, however, that the wood-workers built houses and temples and also manufactured house-hold furniture,² boats, ships, and wheeled carriages (supra pp. 615-16).