This six-piece musician figurine set from Jayshree is made of real camel bone. It is $100.

Decorative and functional models combine real bone and horn with other materials, and feature brightly colored detailing.

India suppliers of bone and horn crafts are incorporating color, handcarving, painting, bleaching, screen-printing, resin and wood to keep selections on-trend.

Blue, pink, green and customized hues are introduced during boiling. Artwork is done by hand. Makers adopt real bone and horn as these are readily available within India, although Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal and Rajasthan are the main centers. Some cow and oxen bone and horn are imported, however.

Jayshree International offers handpainted figurines and statues in brightly colored camel bone.

Colored bone crafts are a best-seller at Natural Craft. The selection includes boxes, decorative balls and trays, frames and lamps made of buffalo and bull horn and bone. They are carved or have resin embellishments. Some have a natural buffed polish.

Gujarat Handicrafts combines teak and bone inlay in its decorative buckets, boxes and lamp shades. The supplier uses camel bone sourced from Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Asian Handicrafts Pvt. Ltd’s collection, meanwhile, features natural bone and horn color. Models include photo frames, boxes and coasters, and are carved by hand.

India has more than 500 makers of bone and horn crafts. The highest concentration of manufacturers is in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh. There are also many local artisans that supply to exporters.

Small exporters can turn out 400 to 500 pieces monthly and there are over 300 such companies. Midsize operations, numbering about 100, can make up to 2,000 models in a month. Large exporters have a monthly capacity of 2,000 to 5,000 pieces and earn more than $10 million in outbound shipments every year.

The major export destinations are the US, Europe and Japan. Shipments there exceed 50,000 tons annually. Australia and China are emerging markets.

Products & prices

Generally, bone and horn crafts from India are priced $0.50 to $20. Quotes are expected to remain at-level for the next six months, thanks to stable material rates. Bone and horn costs, ranging from $0.50 to $2 per kilogram, rose 10 percent previously.

Flower vases, photo frames, figurines, boxes, balls and ornamental plates are among the best-sellers. Some functional products, including cutlery, coasters and shoe lifters, are being offered as show pieces.

Low-end coasters, balls, frames and boxes come in natural bone color with a buffed polish, and 2x2 and 3x3in dimensions. Quotes are from $0.50 to $3.

Colored figurines, 4x6in frames, and 4x4 and 5x7x3in boxes with handpainting and –carving, and resin work are midrange. These reach $6.

The high end covers 5x7in frames, 5x7x3 and 5x7x4in boxes, and three- and six-piece sets of varying decoratve pieces. Products in this segment are $6.50 to $20.

Product gallery

Asian Handicrafts Pvt. Ltd
Model: AHD 01823
MOQ: 500 pieces per style
Delivery: 60 days
Price: $10.50
Description: 4x6in photo frame, 5x7x3in box, 3x3in coaster; real buffalo horn; natural color; buffed finish; MDF base

Asian Handicrafts Pvt. Ltd.
Model: AHD 01530
MOQ: 500 pieces per style
Delivery: 60 days
Price: $10
Description: 4x6in photo frame, 5x7x3in box; real buffalo horn; natural color; buffed finish; MDF base; handcarved

Gujarat Handicrafts
Model: Bucket set
MOQ: 10 sets
Delivery: 45 days
Price: $85
Description: Three-piece bucket set; teak body; bleached real camel bone inlay; 10, 12 and 14in high, 8, 10 and 12in wide, and 8, 10, 12in in diameter

Jayshree International
Model: 7029
MOQ: 20 sets
Delivery: 30 days
Price: $100
Description: Six-piece musician figurine set; real camel bone; lacquered surface; handpainted

Natural Craft
Model: 1
MOQ: 100 sets
Delivery: 30 days
Price: $16
Description: Three-piece set of rectangular boxes; real buffalo bone; MDF base; resin diamond-shaped design; 4x3x3, 6x4x3in and 8x5x3.5in

Natural Craft
Model: 2048
MOQ: 100 pieces
Delivery: 30 days
Price: $3.25
Description: Photo frame; bleached real buffalo bone; MDF back; 4x6in