Wooden craft

1. Wood curving 

 

Bhutan has a vibrant culture of making Patra (པ་ཏྲ་) or wood carving. Professional Patra carvers, known as parps (སྤརཔ་) usually practice the trade of carving on wood for various purposes.

Patra carvings can be found in the production of books, images, architectural designs, furniture and many other wooden artefacts.

This form of wood carving has been designated as one of the 13 traditional arts and crafts promoted by Bhutan since the 17th century.

Short Clip on making carved on wood

Various types of wood are used for carving such as: blue pine, walnut, cypress, maple and champ. Soft wood such as blue pine is preferred by carvers for easy carving but hard woods such as champ and walnut are more durable.

First, the wood is prepared by sawing and planing and a wide range of knives and chisels are used by the carver. The desired design or drawing is then imposed on the wood and the lines are imprinted using ink.

In the first effort, the part which has to be removed is dug out using large chisels and then finer chisels are used to give the finesse and to make nuanced carvings.

Show casting the art of Bhutanese arts

Wooden Bowls (Dappa) 

Dappa, the handmade wooden bowl, is the most popular souvenir one can take from Bhutan. Trashiyangtse, a district of Bhutan, is famous for buying Dappa. However, it can be bought from anywhere in Bhutan. The two halves of bowl fit together firmly and local people used it to carry cooked food.

Handmade wooden bowls are the practical ethnic souvenirs buy from Bhutan. Bamboo reeds also function as Dappa, woven into small baskets and speciality of the southern Bhutan. They are available in bright colours and wonderful designs

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Coloured carved Mask

If you are looking for something festive, colored carved masks would be one of the ideal Bhutanese things to buy. These accessories are a part of the major festivals. There are dances that are a part of these events – this is when the masks are used. The masks can be used as home decor adornments.

Wooden Product:

Since Bhutan has a huge forest cover, most of its products are made from natural materials. The most common is the wood found in the Bhutanese forests. You can different items made of intricately carved wood like utensils, cabinets, mirror frames, jewelry boxes, and tables. When wondering what to buy in Bhutan, these items are the safest bet as the wood found in the country is of prime quality. There are many places from where you can buy these items. There are many artistic variants to it as well. 

Jandhom (wine container)

Jandhom (wine container) is a wooden container traditionally used to store Ara, a locally brewed alcohol. Locals of Khengkhar in Mongar are known for making palang. The age old craft has been a lifeline for many in the community for a long time.

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