What wood you use this traditional craft for?!

So I was at the Lokta paper making factory in Bhaktapur, sorting out my swing tickets/stationary order, last week.  I have blogged about my visits before, but this time I wanted to put on pictures of all the traditional hand-carved wooden pieces that Ram, Aparna's husband collects.  Ram is a fanatic for Nepali history and collects alot of traditional craft pieces - Suryog, their teenage son, showed me his father's new purchases, and he has some beautiful examples of Nepali hand-carving, that is used for window frames, doorways, and pillars in their traditional housing.

 

There are some great projects that preserve this traditonal skill - such as the amazing 5 star boutique hotel Dwarikas, that is in the East of Kathmandu.  Its built around a courtyard, with lots of original Nepali features - its lovely to go sit inthe restaurant and have a nice glass of wine!! Beats all the Yak & Yeti, Radisson, Hyatt etc, for sure, in my eyes!

http://www.dwarikas.com

"The Dwarika's commitment to heritage conservation dates back to 1952, when the founder of the hotel, the late Dwarika Das Shrestha came upon some carpenters sawing off the carved portion of an intricately carved wooden pillar. These pieces of exquisitely carved wood, several centuries old, were being used as firewood. The destruction of Nepal's heritage profoundly influenced Dwarika Das and he bought the half sawed pillar. What began as an impulsive action grew into a passion and ultimately a lifetime of work.

Dwarika Das Shrestha’s commitment towards meticulously collecting and documenting artifacts soon took on a life of its own. Faced with the problem of storing these works of art, Dwarika Das decided to construct a building in the old Newari style of Kathmandu, using the rescued doors and window frames. He envisioned that this new building, which would operate as a guest house, would give these restored treasures a new life and allow more people to appreciate Nepal’s ancient cultural history. The vision behind the Dwarika's Hotel was thus born."

 

ARNIKO is a great brand of skateboards and clothing, that uses the hand-crafted skills of Nepalese carpenters to produce some hand-carved designs on their skateboards - such great products!

http://shop.arnikoskateboards.com/

"Arniko Skateboards are literally made on top of the world using the ancient Himalayan craftsmanship of woodcarving. The Swiss design Skateboards, enriched with the traditions of Nepal, are nothing less than the beautiful result of the fusion of tradition and modernity.

Arniko Skateboards produces all its boards and a wide range of fashion articles in Nepal. It goes without saying that the company ...respects the natural beauty of the country and the dignity of its people in every step of its production. This commitment is well reflected in the company’s products. Each and every one of them treasures a glimpse of the pride of the Nepali people and a peek of the breathtaking beauty of the Himalayan landscape."

SO where could AURA QUE fit into this? Maybe using some hand-carved wooden handles or fittings down the line? Well its an idea at least for now!......

Posted via email from AURA QUE