Traditional carving techniques add an element of individuality to solid hardwood furniture. Many companies are striving for ranges which offer maximum consistency to avoid the issues with varying quality that are often associated with handmade furniture. However there is a fine line between being consistent and being clinical.
With advancements in furniture design it is now possible to have hand crafted individual features within a cabinet which is consistent in both dimensions and quality. The hand carved elements are brought into places where they are focal, rather than structural. By utilising clever design, hand carving and other traditional craft skills can be encouraged to flourish rather than being lost with progression.
An example of this can be found in one of Myakka’s best selling pieces the Thakat Elephant Cupboard where the doors are made up of six individually hand carved elephant panels. Produced in India following fair trade principles, the solid Sheesham wood cupboards have been so popular that the hand carved elephant details are being extended across a new range for 2010.
“The craftsmen use traditional tools and techniques to hand carve the elephants into solid pieces of Sheesham wood. It is a skill we are helping to retain by creating furniture that is really popular here in the UK. Fair trade is only effective if you are sourcng products that the UK market really want to buy and this is definitely evident with our Thakat Elephant range,” commented Georgie Hopkins – Director, Myakka
The hand carved designs combine beautifully with the natural pattern of the timber to create unique pieces of furniture that are consistent in quality and operation.
