Hand-Carved Sheesham: How It's Made and How to Care for It
How Sillanwali craftsmen hand-carve sheesham into tables, boxes, plates and clocks, and how to keep carved pieces looking their best.
At Sillanwali Handicrafts, two crafts sit side by side. One is naqshi, the colourful lacquer work our area is known for. The other is hand carving, where patterns are cut directly into solid sheesham wood. Carved pieces have no paint or lacquer to hide behind. Their beauty comes from the wood's grain and the skill of the hand that shaped it.
Why sheesham carves well
Sheesham is a dense hardwood with a warm, rich grain. Its density lets carvers cut fine details such as petals, rays and lattice without the wood crumbling, and it holds those edges for years. Over time, carved sheesham tends to deepen in colour, giving pieces a richer look. Read more in Is sheesham wood sustainable? and Sheesham vs mango vs acacia wood.
Sheesham vs mango vs acacia wood
How a carved piece comes together
Every piece is different, but the work generally follows these stages:
- Shaping. The basic form, such as a plate, box, tabletop or clock face, is cut or turned from sheesham.
- Marking. The pattern is laid out on the surface.
- Carving. The craftsman cuts the design by hand, working from larger shapes to fine detail.
- Finishing. The surface is smoothed and finished to bring out the grain.
Because the carving is done by hand, two pieces of the same design are never quite identical.
Carved pieces to explore
For the living room
- Carved Wooden Side Table: a round sheesham side table carved by hand from top to base.
- Carved Sheesham Nesting Table Set of 4: four hand-carved nesting tables that stack into one.
- Lattice-Carved Sheesham Nesting Table Set of 4: open lattice-carved tops.
- Carved and Inlaid Sheesham Nesting Table Set of 4: carving combined with white inlay.
Carved Sheesham Nesting Table Set of 4
Lattice-Carved Sheesham Nesting Table Set of 4
Carved and Inlaid Sheesham Nesting Table Set of 4
For the walls
- Carved Wooden Wall Clock: a sheesham wall clock ringed with carved rays.
- Carved Wooden Decorative Plates, Set of 3: three graduated hand-carved sheesham wall plates in 8, 10 and 12 inch.
Carved Wooden Decorative Plates, Set of 3
For the table and dressing table
- Carved Wooden Plate Set of 3: three hand-carved sheesham plates with floral rims, graduated so they stack.
- Carved Wooden Tissue Box: sheesham with a hand-carved lid.
- Carved Jewellery Box: a hand-carved box in plain sheesham.
- Hand-Carved Premium Wooden Jewellery Box Set: three carved sheesham boxes with brass clasps.
Hand-Carved Premium Wooden Jewellery Box Set
How to recognise handwork
Look closely at a carved piece and you'll notice small variations: a petal slightly wider than its neighbour, a ray that curves a little differently. These are signs of handwork, not flaws. Machine-cut pieces tend to be perfectly uniform; hand carving has life in it.
Caring for carved sheesham
Carving creates grooves and edges that need a little extra attention:
- Dust regularly with a soft, dry brush to clear the grooves. A clean, soft paintbrush works well.
- Wipe flat surfaces with a soft, dry or slightly damp cloth, then dry straight away.
- Avoid soaking or harsh chemical cleaners.
- Use coasters on carved tables, especially for hot cups.
- Keep pieces away from heaters and long hours of direct sunlight.
- Polish occasionally with a little wood polish or oil, buffed off well, to keep the grain rich.
A gift with lasting character
Carved sheesham pieces make meaningful wedding, housewarming and corporate gifts, because they're built to last and improve with age. For ideas, see our corporate gifts guide and wedding and nikkah gift guide.
Order from Sillanwali Handicrafts
Every carved piece is handmade in Pakistan, with cash on delivery available. See each product page for current details, browse the home decor collection, or visit bulk orders for larger orders.