SWAT: The centuries old woodcarving tradition of Swat used in furniture and interior decoration attracts customers from across the country for its delicate and high class craftsmanship.

The woodcarving in doors, windows, furniture and interior designing has been practiced in Swat since ancient times and can be traced to the early Buddhist periods under the Kushan dynasty.

Though the craft is practiced in every part of the valley, however, Manglawar, Khwazakhela, Madyan, and Bahrain are famous for the work where trained artisans can be seen busy in woodcarving.

According to the wood carvers demand of the furniture increased manifold in the past decade and majority of the customers are from outside Swat, especially Punjab province.

“Though we have customers in different parts of Swat but mostly people from Punjab and Islamabad come to us for wood carved furniture,” Ikramullah, a carpenter and owner of a furniture shop in Khawzakhela tahsil, told Dawn, adding that most of the tourists who visit his showroom purchase different items.

An artisan in the woodcarving business said that apart from pure Swati patterns known as Kwanjaka, they also follow several other patterns known as four-leaves flower pattern, Allie pattern, Chakesar flower pattern, Kashmiri flower pattern, Punjabi flower pattern, Nooristan flower pattern, Waziristan flower pattern and many others.

“Majority of customers love the Swati pattern as it has hundreds of years old history. It has been practiced since time immemorial,” said Shaukat, an artisan and dealer of the woodwork.

He said presently many customers preferred to buy decorative items including lamps, key boxes, small doors, mirror frames, jewellery boxes, wall panels etc.

The craft is also a means of earning a livelihood for thousands of families in Swat. Salman an artisan from Alam Ganjarea said that he had learnt the craft in two years. “We have special tools for carving wood and different patterns. First, we draw a pattern on wood and then carve it and ultimately other workers fix the same into furniture,” said Azhar Ali, an artisan who was busy in carving wood for mirror frames.

The artisan said that they earned Rs1,500 to Rs3,000 daily and were satisfied.

People who have a passion for culture and heritage are mostly attracted by the Swati furniture and decorative items. “I have a passion for all types of carvings including rock carving and woodcarving and this is why I have purchased all the wood carved furniture for my house,” said Fayaz Zafar who was buying a set of tables from a shop.

Published in Dawn,May 7th, 2022