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Camphor Wood Carvings
Wood Carvings
For many centuries, camphor laurel or Cinnamomum camphora has been used in making furniture and decorative ornaments in Asia. It was primarily used for making sacred items for solemn ceremonies. In fact, this durable hardwood was so valuable in some Oriental countries that cutting this kind of tree merits a death sentence.
Nepali Artisans Carving Camphor Woods for Ankhijhyal Today, this type of timber is used to create other kinds of crafts and wooden products, especially in carving ornamental items of spiritual and cultural significance. This yellowish wood has a number of fine properties that make it ideal for carving.
This beautiful lumber gives off a fresh, insect-repelling camphor scent, making it an ideal component for closets, chests, and cabinets. As mentioned, it also is suitable for making ornamental statues that have spiritual or religious significance because the smell is associated with the odors found in temples.
When combined with silver, camphor wood preserves the quality of the said metal and keeps it from tarnishing. Because of this, it is favored by some artisans who want to create crafts that combine both materials.
In addition, the said aromatic timber is quite flexible, has beautiful dark red-and-yellow striping, and has a lustrous and even texture that can range from medium to fine. These are qualities important to many carvers and artisans because these enhance the overall appearance of the final result.
If you are looking to acquire a wooden ornament, having one made of camphor wood is highly recommended. You get real value for your money with this purchase as carved crafts made of this material are long-lasting and pest-repelling. They also emit a lovely smell that is also known for its medicinal properties.
Start by searching for a beautiful piece of art made from exquisite and aromatic camphor wood by Nepalese craftspersons and have a look at the collection of artifacts and other wood crafts we have in our store now!
MetalCraft in Nepal – How they are made
Before making the copper, bronze (with gold or silver plated) metal Crafts, first all the sculpture is made in pure wax. (The wax is generally made from hilly beehives(“The honey hunting of Nepal” documentary is a renowned documentary from Nepal). Districts like Gorkha, Lamjung, Langtang, and some parts of Manang are very famous for wild beehives, later these beehives are traded in the local market, and from there these wax are made.
A Nepali artisan casting metal by hand Once the wax sculpture is prepared and all designs are done in it. The next step is mixture formation, where cow dung, dark clay, and other raw materials are mixed together and the mixture is made.
Now the mixture is poured all around the wax sculpture surface and let dry for a few hours when it is completely dry there comes the next phase which is the most essential phase.
Let suppose we are making copper/bronze metal craft.
Now the copper is melted at high degrees Celsius making it in liquid form. Once it is turned into a liquid form the melted copper is poured into the wax sculpture from a small hole making wax inside the mixture. Then it is left for 2-3 hours to make it cool. Later on, the outer portion of the mixture is beaten with a hammer and removed; now the shape of the sculpture is formed in a copper shape (leaving the wax, because all the wax is melted out). These copper metal crafts are again designed with the help of iron nails by beating of a small hammer. Afterward, gold plating or silver plating is done to make it more attractive.
Bipin Bajracharya – A Handicraft Artisan Find attractive metal crafts like sculptures, door accessories, traditional utensils etc. from Nepalese local artisans here in our Metal Craft category. We provide customized products as per your requirements as well – do share with your requirements via Chat box, FB messenger or Contact us form.