In India and across central Asia, wood carvings have always been intricate and luxurious. From Chitral to Chiniot and Tharparkar, nearly all regions of Pakistan have their own styles of wood carving. The colours of the furniture represent family values and the bond between them.

Mohammad Munir is a carpenter at a workshop in Islamabad that restores antique and discarded furniture which they collect from all over Pakistan. “By touching the wood and feeling its texture, I can now tell which tree it is from and how old it is.”

People who live next to the sea mostly used shades of turquoise and blue in their work, while those from the mountains use red and green, which are said to be the colours of love and prosperity. Many of the patterns are taken from old carpets and tapestries that depict the traditions of that particular region.

A carpenter brushes a piece of old furniture with polish at his workshop in Rawalpindi. — Photos by the writer

So it is small wonder that the capital is one place where artists and workers from all areas converge. Those who run the many furniture restoration workshops in the capital say they are primarily interested in preserving the art of their regions, as well as the traditions that come from central Asian influences.

The patterns on these old furniture pieces were painted by the people who originally owned them. The red and the green signify love and prosperity.

They say they assess what people like and by restoring antique pieces, can increase their market value, which was somehow forgotten by time and the people who originally bought them.

Dolat Khan, 42, came here from Swat some 15 years ago and set up his shop in Rawalpindi. “Pakistan’s art is so rich and I would like to preserve that art and culture by restoring this furniture.”

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2015

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