Model of an Ivory craftsman

Mysore, Thiruvananthapuram, Delhi, Murshidabad were chief centres of ivory carving in India. Ivory craftsmen were mainly artisans with hereditary skills. Art schools established in the Presidency towns by the British in the 19th century encouraged naturalism as seen in the figures of Radha Krishna. Ivory carvings from South India were exported to international markets from Mumbai up to 1950s.