Chakla Belan

About this piece

Chakla Belan — rolling board and pin for roti. Made by hand from sheesham (rosewood) and plainly polished, in the Sillanwali Handicrafts workshop in Sillanwali, Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan. It measures Board 9 in across. It costs PKR 1,150. It is ready to ship and delivered within 3 to 4 days anywhere in Pakistan, paid in cash on delivery.

A round rolling board and a matching rolling pin for roti and paratha. The board is nine inches across. It is cut from solid sheesham and left thick, which is the point — a thin board cups and rocks within a season of daily use, and this one stays flat on the counter. The pin is turned on the khraad from the same wood and sanded smooth rather than lacquered, so dough releases from it instead of sticking to a finish. Wood also gives a little under the pin in a way stone and steel do not, which is what lets you feel the thickness of the roti through your hands. Choose plain sheesham, or the hand-painted version if it is going out as a gift rather than into daily use. Made in Sillanwali, Sargodha. Wash it by hand in warm water and dry it straight away rather than leaving it to soak, and rub in a little food-safe oil now and then to keep the wood from drying out. Never put it in a dishwasher. A name or a date can be engraved on the underside of the board, which is why the chakla belan is a standard part of a bride dowry in Punjab.

Every piece is made by hand, so the wood grain, carving and colour vary a little from the photo. That variation is normal and is what makes each one its own.