Keeping Traditional Crafts Alive
Traditional carving techniques add an element of individuality to solid hardwood furniture. Many companies are striving to have ranges that are clinically consistent, avoiding the issues with varying quality that are often associated with handmade furniture pieces.
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 are being saved from extinction.
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 elephants. Produced in India following Fair Trade principles the solid Sheesham wood cupboards have been so popular they are being made into a range for 2010.
“The craftsman use traditional tools and techniques to hand carve the elephants into solid pieces of Sheesham wood. It is a skill we are helping retain by creating furniture that is really popular here in the UK. Fair Trade is even more powerful if you can create products that the UK market really want to buy,” 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.
“The way we meet with our stringent quality control and still add hand carved details into pieces is through the clever integration of man and machine. By using the machines in the production of the furniture carcases we can guarantee consistency in the dimensions of the pieces.” Commented Simon Whitehead – Director, Myakka
For more information images and a video about the process behind the production of the Thakat Elephant Cupboard please follow this address to Myakka’s blog:
http://furniture-home.myakka.co.uk/
Myakka is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more
Tags: craftmanship, fair trade, furniture