Base material: Wood
Category: Decorative items
Kerala is famed for its carvings, cast bell metal work, jewellery, granite idols, pillars, coir, coconut shell and sea-shell products, carvings in wood (especially rosewood or sandalwood), snake boat models and other figurines. Kerala's craftsmen are skilled at carving out little elephants in wood and stone, and decorating them with little mirrors, beads and embroidery to make them look like the actual caparisoned tusker.
Each of these crafts is confined to select regions. Craftsmen in Thiruvananthapuram make rosewood elephants besides conch and sea shell articles like paper weights and lamp shades. The actual caparison and decorations for elephants, and other festival paraphernalia are made in Thiruvankulam in Ernakulam district and the adjoining areas of Thrissur.