Walnut Furniture
Walnut Craft of Kashmir:
The natural beauty of the region is no doubt an inspiration and diverse skills are used to imaginatively replicate this legacy. Carved walnut wood work is one of the most important crafts of the valley and Kashmir is home to some of the best walnut wood carving done anywhere in the world.
Walnut is the most common wood used for carving and Kashmir is the only place in India where this wood comes from. It also is now one of the few places in the world where walnut is still available. The wood is hard and durable, it’s close grain and even texture facilitates fine and detailed work.
Woodcraft in Kashmir has a history that spans over ten centuries. Wood work is a craft born of the needs of the local people and inspired by the rich variety of beautiful wood available in the valley, such as walnut and deodar.
The kashmiri craftsmen are renowned for their craftsmanship and the skill of the kashmiri wood worker is not restricted to small objects but extends to the fine geometrical designs of the ceilings, ornate doors and ceiling panels, cornices, facades and roof eaves as well as intricate Pinjra (Lattice) work.
About Project:
The project proposes technology and production based intervention in the area of wooden furniture, traditionally manufactured in and Srinagar valley, Kashmir.
The project is envisaged a design development exercise involving professional designers, local artisans, manufacturers and traders engaged in the production of wood-based traditional furniture. The scope of the project also proposes to research and identify issues, concerns and bottlenecks towards quality and commercially viable production of furniture from Kashmir, for domestic and international markets.
Objective of the Project:
• Design development of wood based traditional furniture, to address typical production related concerns towards innovating joinery & detailing.
• Introduction of related hardware and exploration of its application to achieve economical & quality oriented production of wood based furniture.
• Explore & develop alternative surface finishing techniques in the context of international markets.
• To Explore and demonstrate integration possibilities of modern technology with traditional techniques & skills base towards competitive design & production, in the context of present and future markets.
• Design development to achieve knock-down possibilities, convenient assembly, stakability and volume reduction for economical transportation.
• Design development to appreciate optimal use of raw material and human resource in production of wood-based furniture.
• Generate knowledge base and reference material in the above context to initial further development.
