Mongolian Bonecraft

The livelihood of the herders is dependent from the raw materials of livestock, so nothing is wasted. Mongolian people have been carving many types of materials to make equipment, clothing pieces, household utensils and decorations for homes and monasteries. Wood, steel, bone and stone are the most common materials for carving. Mongolian craftsmen have been using the blade bone for amazing carvings for hundreds of years.

There are no suitable tools for carving bone blade, so Mongolian craftsmen make their own. After all, Mongolians consider that smith who does not craft his own tools is not a smith at all. Bone itself is oily material, so processing progress of this material requires a number of steps. Craftsmen carve blade bones of different animals. Of course carvings made from the blade bone of exotic animals are more valuable. Although, these animals are not illegally hunted. Rangers bring bones from such animals to be carved and displayed in the museum of the region.