Hand-Carved Wooden Walking Stick

About this piece

Hand-Carved Wooden Walking Stick — A carved handle on a turned sheesham shaft. Made by hand from sheesham (rosewood) and carved by hand, in the Sillanwali Handicrafts workshop in Sillanwali, Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan. It measures about 36 in tall. It costs PKR 2,200. It is ready to ship and delivered within 3 to 4 days anywhere in Pakistan, paid in cash on delivery.

A walking stick turned from sheesham, with the handle carved into a curved bird's head that fills the palm and a brass-toned collar where the handle meets the shaft. The shaft tapers to a turned tip, so the stick stands against a wall instead of sliding away. The handle is the piece of work. It is cut freehand with chisel and gouge from the stick itself rather than made separately and fitted, so there is no joint to work loose — and the curve of the grip differs a little from one stick to the next. The wood is left in a natural polish, so the grain shows the whole length of the shaft. It suits an elder at home, a walk to the mosque, or a gift to a father or a grandfather: something used every day that still looks like it was made by somebody. Take the weight on the handle rather than the tip, and stand it in a corner rather than leaving it on a wet floor. Made in Sillanwali, Sargodha, and carved individually, so grain, colour and the exact line of the handle vary from stick to stick. Dust with a soft dry cloth and rub in a little furniture oil now and then.

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.