Holding on to a dying art
Unlike the past, stone masonry in construction has lost its charm and value to a considerable extent
Representational Image of Mosque PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
From the outset, stone masonry has been a part of many cultures and civilisations. In Pakistan, it has been an essential element of the aesthetics of mosques, shrines, monuments, historical structures, public buildings, and even houses.
Owing to its importance, many stonemasons in the country have been involved in the profession many generations. One such individual is Muhammad Fayyaz from Rawalpindi, whose skilled hands have shaped and enriched Rawalpindi’s built environment for many years.
“From the elegant interiors of the modern mosques and public buildings to shrines, tombstones, and inauguration stones, I have been involved in many forms of stone masonry,” Fayyaz told The Express Tribune.
“I started learning stone masonry and sculpture-making from a very young age. My teacher, Malik Bashir, was a very skilled artist. I highly respect him,” he said.
He said that contrasting the Mughal era when stone masonry enjoyed the status of a complete form of art and was considered an essential part of building construction, it has now lost its charm and value to a considerable extent.
Fayyaz added that he struggles to find work because many people do not seem to be interested in carving work anymore, probably to cut costs.
“Unlike the past, you can now see very few shops on the City-Saddar Road of Rawalpindi. If we look at the past, all the old buildings of the Mughal period, the temples, and even the old streets of Rawalpindi boast construction masterpieces made of precious marble stones,” he said.
He explained that in days gone by, large-scale stone carvings were carried out in palaces, tombs and mosques, which have now become limited to tombstones.
“Tombstones typically feature Quranic verses, the Kalima, name of the deceased, their date of birth and date of death. “Since life has become fast and busy, and people are suffering from inflation, they rarely make arrangements to put inscriptions on the graves of their loved ones. As a result, they just opt for very short descriptions, if at all.”
A survey through the stone masonry market revealed that a complete tombstone made up of marble costs Rs20,000 to Rs30,000 and takes about one month for completion. Artists said that they generally avoid accepting work for inaugural stones made for government buildings and schemes because payments get unnecessarily delayed.
Stonemasonry work seen in some of the most important mosques of Rawalpindi city has been done by hand, without the use of machinery. If an artist is chosen to work on a shrine or a mosque, the job would last for many months and compensation is good.
“Usually, I earn Rs,15000 to Rs20,000 a month. I have a wife and five children dependent on me. My sons are not interested in this work,” Fayyaz said.
He added that he buy expensive Chakwal marble from the open market and other areas for about Rs200 per square foot, whereas good-quality stone imported from China costs Rs600 per square foot.
The inscriptions and design on the small marble stone are carried out for Rs300 to Rs400. After the inscriptions, the real work is carving the stone.
“We use a hammer and a small chisel to carve stones. The next task is to paint the stone and polish it,” Fayyaz said. “Carvings on dark-coloured stones last longer but the customer may opt for any other colour of their choice,” he said. “It is hard, time-consuming work because of the intricacies involved but I accept three to four orders per day to make ends meet.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 27th, 2020.
From the outset, stone masonry has been a part of many cultures and civilisations. In Pakistan, it has been an essential element of the aesthetics of mosques, shrines, monuments, historical structures, public buildings, and even houses.
Owing to its importance, many stonemasons in the country have been involved in the profession many generations. One such individual is Muhammad Fayyaz from Rawalpindi, whose skilled hands have shaped and enriched Rawalpindi’s built environment for many years.
“From the elegant interiors of the modern mosques and public buildings to shrines, tombstones, and inauguration stones, I have been involved in many forms of stone masonry,” Fayyaz told The Express Tribune.
“I started learning stone masonry and sculpture-making from a very young age. My teacher, Malik Bashir, was a very skilled artist. I highly respect him,” he said.
He said that contrasting the Mughal era when stone masonry enjoyed the status of a complete form of art and was considered an essential part of building construction, it has now lost its charm and value to a considerable extent.
Fayyaz added that he struggles to find work because many people do not seem to be interested in carving work anymore, probably to cut costs.
“Unlike the past, you can now see very few shops on the City-Saddar Road of Rawalpindi. If we look at the past, all the old buildings of the Mughal period, the temples, and even the old streets of Rawalpindi boast construction masterpieces made of precious marble stones,” he said.
He explained that in days gone by, large-scale stone carvings were carried out in palaces, tombs and mosques, which have now become limited to tombstones.
“Tombstones typically feature Quranic verses, the Kalima, name of the deceased, their date of birth and date of death. “Since life has become fast and busy, and people are suffering from inflation, they rarely make arrangements to put inscriptions on the graves of their loved ones. As a result, they just opt for very short descriptions, if at all.”
A survey through the stone masonry market revealed that a complete tombstone made up of marble costs Rs20,000 to Rs30,000 and takes about one month for completion. Artists said that they generally avoid accepting work for inaugural stones made for government buildings and schemes because payments get unnecessarily delayed.
Stonemasonry work seen in some of the most important mosques of Rawalpindi city has been done by hand, without the use of machinery. If an artist is chosen to work on a shrine or a mosque, the job would last for many months and compensation is good.
“Usually, I earn Rs,15000 to Rs20,000 a month. I have a wife and five children dependent on me. My sons are not interested in this work,” Fayyaz said.
He added that he buy expensive Chakwal marble from the open market and other areas for about Rs200 per square foot, whereas good-quality stone imported from China costs Rs600 per square foot.
The inscriptions and design on the small marble stone are carried out for Rs300 to Rs400. After the inscriptions, the real work is carving the stone.
“We use a hammer and a small chisel to carve stones. The next task is to paint the stone and polish it,” Fayyaz said. “Carvings on dark-coloured stones last longer but the customer may opt for any other colour of their choice,” he said. “It is hard, time-consuming work because of the intricacies involved but I accept three to four orders per day to make ends meet.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 27th, 2020.