Ali Usman Baig : chiniot

Saturday 25 February 2023

𝐀𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐮𝐤𝐡 𝐒𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐭

07th March 2018

(All photographs and text used in this article are author's property, please take prior permission if needed of using them)

An elegant, traditional, and unique style of the shrine is present in Chiniot city. The shrine has four significant structures on its premises; two tombs, one minaret of the mosque, and one arched entrance to the shrine.

Tomb-1

The first tomb is designed in the shape of a rectangular pavilion arcade that looks to be inspired by the Mughal architecture ‘Baradari” design; however, it has seven arched gateway openings on one side and six on the others. These arches run inside the pavilion as well. The repetitive nature of the arches gave an overall look of rhythm and symmetry in pattern, a sense of unity and continuity, and overall exquisiteness in architecture. Each arch is pointed cinquefoil type which is characterized by five cusps or pointed arches forming a floral shape. The arch is typically seen in Gothic architecture. The arch is raised from the impost.

In the front elevation, the Spandrels above the arches are decorated with floral motifs created most likely with plaster or lime mixture. However, the spandrels lying inside the pavilion are adorned with floral mural patterns painted in oil.

Above the spandrels, a band of brown tile runs all around the front facade, on the center of which a floral molding is present on all four sides.

Exterior cornice molding: a decorative feature seen at the junction of the exterior façade and the roof. It is made by adjoining two C-Shape sections on the same axis but opposite directions made in plaster the outer edge is painted in green color.

On the edge of the roof, a small height of parapet wall runs along the periphery, which is constructed by installing tiles; these tiles having shaped like pointed arches; a common style inspired by Mughal architecture.

The corner columns are circular and fluted in style, with a series of parallel grooves carved into the surface and floral embellishments at the bottom.

On each corner of the roof slab, a small minaret also has been installed.

On the ground floor, in the middle of rectangular pavilion graves are present around which walls are raised in squares to form a tomb. An entrance door is present in the center of this tomb. On the first floor, a quadrangular dome is raised; a type of dome structure that has a square or rectangular base instead of a circular one.

The most interesting and unique feature of this tomb, which, I haven’t seen elsewhere in Pakistan is that a square base lifted in the form of walls around 07 feet in height above which a dome is raised. On the front of these square walls, one can see a trademark of Chinioti's workmanship of creating an immaculate design of archivolts. A series of ornamental moldings form decorative bands around a blind arch in the center. This archivolt is composed of a series of arch bands, featuring intricate decorative patterns of floral motifs.

On the corner of this quadrangular dome, fluted pillars are present having balconies and dome shape moldings on the top.

An amalaka is a segmented or notched stone that sits on the top of Hindu temples, that represents a lotus. A molding of a similar design is present on the top of the quadrangular dome. Also, a finial is raised from the apex of the amalaka.

Friday 10 February 2023

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐉𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐭

07th March 2018

Wood has continued to be used in architecture throughout history and remains a popular building material to this day, thanks to its versatility, availability, and sustainable nature.

The city of Chiniot is renowned for its wooden craftsmanship, there are hundreds of shops and small factories present in every corner of the city, where state-of-the-art wooden furniture is manufactured. In the past, the Chinioti wooden craftsmen's name was considered a trademark all over the united Hindustan for crafting various structural and decorative elements of architecture made of wood.

However, the use of wooden craftsmanship declined with the advent of modern building techniques and materials but has since experienced a resurgence of interest as people have come to appreciate the beauty and durability of traditional wooden structures.

I came across one such residential building in Chiniot constructed of small-size bricks probably Lahori bricks (100 mm x 150 mm x 20 mm). At the entrance, an enchanting wooden door adorned with a decorative floral pattern on top of which three layers of wooden archivolt runs. The archivolt was complementing the surrounding outer band of arches constructed in bricks. Along this, a heavily crafted wooden arched window is present at elevation. In Chiniot this style of entrance door used to be common, and they called it “Saddar Darwaza” in their language.

The entrance further takes you to a quadrangle veranda, all four walls of which gave one the impression of visiting an art gallery adorned with embellishments and lime moulding elements. These elements enhance the appearance and aesthetic appeal.

The three walls of the quadrangle veranda have symmetry in design and a pattern sense of mathematics in each element. Each side of which has three wooden doors having wooden ventilators at the top. The wooden ventilator has two parts; a wooden frame inside of which has intricate carvings of floral mesh design. In Chiniot this is called “Gira ka kam”, a high level of hand craftsmanship, skill, and artistry required in crafting this. Nowadays computer-aided machines made this job easy.

Inside of wooden frame a glass consisting of several small pieces with different colors assembled in a floral design pattern, which looks ornately decorative. In Chiniot this is called “Shisha Kari”, a high level of skilled craftsmanship which is elegantly and aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

Further to that each wall was decorated with several embellishments. A moulding in the shape of an arch and column was constructed probably with lime plaster framed around each wooden door and ventilator. On the crown of each arch, a flower can be seen, which is crafted in lime plaster.

There is another series of moulding that runs in the shape of the band at the junction of the roof and wall all around the veranda.

The fourth wall has a similar design of mouldings, however, instead of three doors, two windows are installed on each side, and in the middle wall, a fireplace is present.

On the vacant wall surface, sophisticatedly drawn mural work can be seen.

On the inner surface of the extended shade, a wooden false ceiling comprising several small parts was assembled and installed. Each wooden tile has a specific floral pattern in the middle.

I visited this place in 2018, the house was owned by the famous Sheikh family of Chiniot. The owner was an aged man, he shared his father was a famous businessman in Chiniot his businesses were expanded all over the united Hindustan. Of his siblings there were two elder sisters, who were married and living in Dhaka for a long, he did not marry and he was the only one left here; he was sad that who will take care of his father's property after him.

I started writing an article on this building in February 2023, almost five years after my visit to Chiniot. Today I called my friend in Chiniot just to inquire about the health of that man, he told me the aged owner died a few years back and now his house is locked from the outside.

The building was a “Jewel of Chiniot” a true specimen of craftmanship and artistry of Chiniot Workmanship. I don’t know what will be future of this building and how long it going to survive.