Shashikant Dhone has an eye for rare wooden pieces. This member of the International Collectors' Society of Rare Items (ICSRI) collects unique pieces of wood and lends them an artistic identity. It also helps that his family business deals with firewood and charcoal - much of his collection owes its existence to wood picked up from Goa and Belgaum during his business tours over the past 20-odd years.``I do not really interfere with the natural structure of the wooden blocks. I more or less let them be,'' says Dhone of his collection. Of course, there are a few minor changes that have to be executed - the outer layer has to be stripped clean, the block then has to be polished, dried and if necessary, coated with varnish or neem oil to prevent it from getting rotten with time. Dhone began on his collection in 1975, and over the years, has exhibited the pieces at various exhibitions in the city as part of the ISCRI.It is amazing how he has sought and found images and shapes in nature - a babul tree block shaped like the Elephant God, a wooden block that resembles a fuming dragon, a bamboo piece whose finer points suggest a porcupine. And there's some more - wooden blocks shaped like a snake, a mouse, a hippopotamus, an eagle. a veritable animal kingdom!Family support has been the backbone of his efforts. Wife Kalpana and brother Dnyaneshwar boost his morale and help him pursue his hobby. ``During our exhibitions, we almost spend one full week on the venue. That is when the burden of the business falls squarely on my brother's shoulders. I am truly grateful for his support,'' Dhone affirms.Apart from the wood creations, a collection of half-burnt coal pieces also forms part of Dhone's novel art accumulation. These pieces are unusual - for their shapes, naturally. All credit to this individual who has the eye to appreciate them and infuse them with life.Shashikant Dhone is also listed in the Limca Book of Records for having collected the maximum number of invitation cards in the country - 2,676. These cards are in different Indian languages and meant for different occasions.Coming back to Dhone's first love. imagine a trunk - cut away from its supporting tree, uprooted and unable to engender. Dhone's collection includes one such specimen - a trunk with its roots turned upside down. Under Dhone's eye, it has evolved into a beautiful artefact. As they say, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder!
