Our buyers travel the world to find furniture and accessories to enhance your home. With each journey, they bring back items with an interesting background story.

In this story, we want to tell you more about our original Bullock cart display cabinets. Once the backbone of India’s transport system, bullock carts have long symbolized rural life and urban connectivity, dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization. Read more below.

Essential

Bullock carts have played a crucial role in transporting agricultural and domestic goods in Indian villages. Adapted to different regions and needs, they evolved over time, but the rise of motorized vehicles gradually replaced them in daily life.

Design and functionality

A bullock cart, also known as an ox cart, can have either two or four wheels and is pulled by oxen. Used for centuries worldwide, they remain in use where modern vehicles are impractical or too expensive.

Traditional use in farming and trade

Primarily used for carrying goods, these carts are pulled by one or more oxen and attached via chains or ropes to yokes. The driver and passengers sit at the front, while goods—often agrarian products or lumber—are loaded at the back.

From utility to unique furniture

Antique bullock carts are now repurposed into stunning furniture pieces, such as coffee tables and bookshelves. Our latest design features a reclaimed bullock cart turned into a stylish bookshelf with a lime-wash finish. Retaining its original brass, metal, and copper details, it stands as a true heritage collector’s item!

All our unique items are available on our B2B portal at: b2b.rawmaterials.eu. Please note that you need a login to browse the B2B website and to see all the prices. Please request a login by using the button below.

Het bericht Bullock cart display cabinets verscheen eerst op Raw Materials.

Firstly I would like to thank all of you who are buying unique items. However current & past situations are raising my concerns where the future for unique is taking us. For past years many of us have been struggling to make ends meet. Economically it has been tough. There is no confidence in politics, inflation is high, gas prices, rent & employee costs are considerably up. In general, the cost of living has gone up for everyone and consumers are spending less.

Old stock has been sold to pay the bills, without buying new stock. Customers entering a shop did not see anything new & walked out. This supported the downfall in turnover. A popular economist solution would be to invest against this cycle…

Keep on buying fresh & new goods, make your shop beautiful, give the customer a good experience when they do walk into your shop. Realistically this could work for a few months or seasonally but this downfall is lasting already for last 3 years. Above all online shopping is taking over & growing day by day. Buying famous brand names which attracts customers is for sure not the answer. Those brand names are the most visible and price competitive in the online market.

Solution

My suggestion is, to buy more unique items! You will stand out from the rest, there is no competition & the customers get their positive experience in your shop. Just mix in the old with the new. Even a modern home decorated with only brand names, looks better and special with that unique cabinet. Unique items tell their own story & stand out from the rest. House guests will acknowledge those items, a lot more then those mass produced items.

Importance

My request is also to think a bit more deep about the importance of uniqueness. If we stop buying unique items, we break an age old cycle. We as wholesalers will stop buying them as well, due to no sales. Local wholesalers in faraway countries stop collecting them. The runners, whom are going to the small villages stop buying and so it all falls apart.

Soon on my visits what I get offered is less quality and what is available is selected and demanding high-end prices. As a result, we have to raise our prices and for sure I do not want to be a gallery, nor a high-end antique dealer. The short end of it is, no more heritage items, no more stories, no more cultural exchanges, and next step is to close all our museums.

New year’s resolution

At Raw Materials we want to continue to offer clients good & special unique pieces for affordable prices in 2025. This is my personal new year’s resolution! We will be investing against the economical cycle.

A container full of nice unique items just arrived in our warehouse. End of Januari a new container comes and mid Feb again and March and April. Every few weeks we will be posting online new unique items. If you want that unique buying experience, do visit our warehouse.

For those who want to stand out and mix in the old with the new and offer unique items to their customers and improve their turnover: We are ready!

Unique items for sale

All our unique items are available on our B2B portal at: b2b.rawmaterials.eu. Please note that you need a login to browse the B2B website and to see all the prices. Please request a login by using the button below.

Het bericht The importance of uniqueness verscheen eerst op Raw Materials.

Our buyers travel the world to find furniture and accessories to enhance your home. With each journey, they bring back items with an interesting background story.

In this month’s ‘Story Of..’, we want to tell you more about our Grinding Bowls. Read more below.

Origin

Fabulously decorative and useful Indian grinding bowl, originally used to grind flour to make traditional Indian breads such as naan or chapatti. Superb as a coffee table, magazine tray, or indoor planter.

The grinding table or Chakki is made from wood with hand-carved detailing around the sides. It will bring an ethnic and authentic touch to your interior.

The word Chakki derives from traditional Indian grinding wheat between two stone plates. This is still used in some parts of rural India.

These tables are commonplace in Indian village households and are used for grinding spices and flour.

History

In the old times, almost every house in several parts of India had a flour mill or an atta chakki. Grains like wheat, maize, and pearl millet would be ground fresh each day. All women in the family would take part in this daily ritual to ensure that healthy rotis could be served to everyone. The graining was fixed on a slightly raised platform in an airy but windowless room at the back of the house.

How does a flour mill work?

The top stone had a rectangular piece of wood (galua) fixed at the center in which a metal rod (attached to the stone at the bottom) was adjusted to provide the pivot for stones to move over each other. Grains would be poured from the top and a fancy wood-carved handle — placed on the top — was used to turn the top stone clockwise to make flour.

The bigger the stone, the faster the process and the finer the flour. However, the fact that it has to be turned by hand is a limiting factor. Usually, the diameter of the stone is less than the length of a person’s arm. Two persons can sit facing each other and move the chakki handle together to ease the work. The processed atta falls off the lower stone into the bhir — a circular receptacle below the chakki, which is made of mud and coated with multani mitti (Fuller’s earth).

The flour prepared through this method is healthier, unlike machine-ground flour and it does not heat up during the grinding process.

Small grinding tables – the usage

A smaller version of the chakki, which could be moved around the house, is called chakula and is used to prepare daliya from a variety of grains and for splitting the whole pulse into the dal. The smaller diameter of the stones ensured the grain was only broken, not turned to flour. It was religiously washed before the fasting season to grind kuttu (buckwheat) and sendha namak (Himalayan pink salt).

These semi-processed products are part of Uttar Pradesh’s cuisine. While wheat daliya is quite common, daliya can also be prepared from makki (maize), bajra (pearl millet), and jowar (sorghum).

The chakula can be adjusted to process pulses so that each grain breaks into two pieces, but the manual process is crude and sometimes the seed shatters into many pieces, and sometimes, it passes through unharmed. It all depends on the expertise of the person who adjusts the chakula and it is not good to get too much of either.

The shattered pieces are called chuni and have pieces of the seed coats which add to the nutrition. Chuni is soaked in water and then wheat flour is added to make it into a dough from which nutritious rotis or crisp parathas can be prepared (see recipe). Just like split pulses, chuni can be stored to be used later.

The home-processed dals are unpolished and though unpolished dals are easily available in the market now at a premium price, these are processed by machines only.

Health benefits

Daliya and chuni provide healthy choices along with some wholesome exercise. Working the chakki is often prescribed to pregnant women to ease childbirth. Chakki chalanasana is part of yoga with improves spine health and reduces backache. It also helps reduce belly fat and is a good alternative to going to the gym.

Unfortunately, chakki has now become synonymous with serving a jail term as prisoners are mandated to make flour.

Grinders for sale

We have obtained several old original grinders which are now up for sale.

See this selection.

Also we have two grinders in our permanent collection, see below.

Het bericht Indian Grinding Bowls (Chakki) verscheen eerst op Raw Materials.

Our buyers travel the world to find furniture and accessories to enhance your home. With each journey, they bring back items with an interesting background story.

In this month’s ‘Story Of..’, we want to tell you more about our Martavan jars. Read more below.

History

The Mon people of Lower Burma established states in Pegu and Martaban. In Martaban, they established large pottery kilns to produce storage vessels such as this example which were used across Southeast Asia and even India and the Middle East to transport commodities such as dried fish, oil, grains, dried chills, and dried mango. It is likely that the jars were used again and again and were strapped into the holds of small trading vessels in the manner that the Romans transported wine and olive oil in amphorae around the Roman empire, or much like containers are used and re-used to ship goods on containers ships today.

Martaban jar is a generic term for large heavy stoneware jars shipped out of the port of Martaban. It doesn’t identify the origin where these jars were made as many jars exported from the port were made in China, Thailand, and Vietnam instead of from local kilns, which the different materials and styling could distinguish. During the Ming dynasty, this busy port was under the jurisdiction of Thailand. These jars were documented from the 14th century and the export lasted until Martaban ceased to be an important international port after the Burmese attack in 1613.

According to Fraser-Lu (1994, p. 201), Martaban jars were first mentioned in 1350 by the Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta, who visited the port of Martaban.

Due to this trade, jars produced in Martaban were found in Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Borneo, and India.

When not used for transporting goods, the jars were then re-purposed locally as storage jars often for rice or drinking water.

The various designs and functions of martaban jars demonstrate the dynamism that emerged with the expansion of maritime voyages during the early modern period of Southeast Asia.

Colonial times

Through 17th-century shipwrecks, it was discovered that martaban jars were a major trade for the Dutch East India Company (VOC) as they could effectively store items such as salted pork, opium, ginger, wine, gunpowder, and other items while being shipped from Coromandel to Batavia.

Differences in origin

The origins of martaban jars can be determined by their features such as their glaze, colour, decorations, size, and lugs

The general description for martaban jars is “large, brown to almost black, glazed jars”. They usually have broad shoulders and “thick-lipped narrow mouths”. The glaze conventionally has a “poured effect” that results in the natural clay at the bottom remaining exposed

While most of the martaban jars in the collection of museums were made in Guangdong province, southern China, the color and chemical composition of glazes reveal the exchanges in pottery traditions in Asia. The technique of glazing the jars is said to have been introduced to Burma by Dvavarati traditions, as confirmed through an examination of glazed pottery in U-Thong, Thailand. Other styles of glazing include the ash-colored natural glaze, known in Japan as “dragonfly eye”, found in jars from the Tang dynasty (618-907), leather-textured glazes claimed to be of Manchu origin under the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368) and lead glaze which was a predominant style in Burma.

Other cultures

These jars do not just have great commercial and aesthetic value, they have also become imbued with memories of ancestry, love, life, and death as heirloom items (peska or pusaka) to indigenous cultures in Borneo, otherwise known today as East Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei

An example of a martaban jar that demonstrates such hybrid qualities would be a large storage jar.

This particular jar once belonged to Lawai Jau, the chief of Kenyah people in Sarawak. In terms of shape and the glaze’s “poured effect”, this jar remains conventional. However, its exquisite relief of tigers and blossoms as well as handles in the shape of tigers are characteristic of the Ming dynasty period. Due to its light brown glaze, this type of jar is more likely to be made in Go-sanh, Vietnam

In Borneo, large amounts of jars were brought into the region through Santubong, a port along the Sarawak River since the Song dynasty. By the 14th century, the Kelabit would have access to jars from China, Vietnam and Thailand.

Among Dayak groups in Borneo, there are two types of pusaka jars. The first are ordinary heirloom jars which are used for storage purposes, brewing rice beer and marriage payment. The second are extraordinary heirloom jars which are deemed to be sacred, mostly reserved as ossuaries or trophies from headhunting. The extraordinary heirloom jars are a reflection of the incredible dynamism that is consequent of maritime trade across the Indian Ocean in the early modern era. Their sacrality is said to originate from indigenous mythology of being  ‘conceived by dragons, have fallen from the sky or be born as a Man at the heart of the forest’

Examples

Beautiful examples of the Martaban jar locally made that were cherished by ancient people across the globe.

Period: 16th – 17th century
Region: Myanmar
Material: Glazed Stoneware Ceramic
Size: 55 x 43 x 43 cm

A large antique Southeast Asian pottery Martaban jar with a Henan style glaze and moulded ribbed details. These jars were used to carry Mango and pickles on the silk route.

Period: 19th Century
Material: Glazed stoneware ceramic
Size: 53 x 61 cm
Color: aged brown

A true Burmese jar from a local kiln. Classic form made from a reddish brown paste in contrast to the grayish of the Thai counterpart. The black lead glaze exhibited beautiful oxidated patina and wear that only comes with age. The distinctive Burmese characteristic is also evident in surface ornamentation including the horizontally positioned lugs on the shoulder and applied lines or dots in relief. The interior of the jar was also thinly glazed in order to be impermeable for liquid dictated by its function.

Chinese Martaban Storage Jar
Period: Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
Material: Stoneware with relief decoration and brown glazes

This large Martaban jar is one of the most beautifully proportioned examples we have seen, It is in essentially perfect condition. It is also beautifully glazed in browns and yellows which have developed a lovely patina.

It is heavily-potted, large, short-necked, wide-shouldered, and tapers to a small flat foot. The top two thirds are decorated in a brown glaze with thin, horizontal and vertical bands of yellow bosses. The bottom third has been left un-glazed.

The shoulder has four small, equi-distant handles. This might have been used to strap the jar for carrying but also to secure it with raffia when it was being transported by shop.

Het bericht Martavan jar (Martaban) verscheen eerst op Raw Materials.

Our buyers travel the world to find furniture and accessories to enhance your home. With each journey, they bring back items with an interesting background story.

In this month’s ‘Story Of..’, we want to tell you more about our authentic Nandis. Read more below.

Nandi is the sacred bull, gatekeeper, and vehicle (Vahana) of the Hindu god Shiva. Sculptures of Nandi are a common sight at Hindu temples dedicated to its master. In fact, Nandi is partly responsible for the Hindu reverence for living bulls even today, especially in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Nandi’s role

According to the Vayu Purana, Nandi is the son of Kasyapa and Surabhi. In the Saura Purana Nandi, his role as Shiva’s gatekeeper is described as, ‘adorned with all ornaments, glowing like a thousand suns, holding a trident in his hand, three-eyed, adorned with a sliver of the moon, a thunderbolt in his hand, four-armed, like a second Sankara [Shiva]’.

Besides being Shiva’s vehicle, Nandi is also the chief of the god’s team of ganas or attendants, and consequently, he often carries a golden staff of office. His other duties include being the guardian of all quadrupeds and the provider of music as Shiva dances the tandava, the cosmic dance of creation.

History: Nandi Battles Indra

In the Brhaddharma Purana, it is Nandi who, at the command of Shiva, kills the elephant demon Airavata, who belongs to the god Indra. Nandi had been given the task of finding a replacement head for the god Ganesha who had lost him in an unfortunate accident involving his father Shiva. Naturally, Indra was not best pleased with this plan and so hurled various projectiles at Nandi to stop him. However, Nandi easily swept aside Indra’s mace, trident, and thunderbolt. Indra next gathered his huge army together and subjected Nandi to a fearsome rain of arrows. Nandi, whose body is as hard as a rock, was untroubled by this salvo and, laughing nonchalantly, proceeded to lop off Airavata’s head anyway. The head was soon added to Ganesha’s body, and Shiva was delighted with Nandi’s handiwork.

Representation in art

A statue of Nandi is present as a bull sitting on a plinth in front of most Hindu temples dedicated to Shiva, especially Dravida (Southern) temples. He sits in a dedicated columned pavilion known as a nandi mandapa and is positioned so that he gazes in adoration at Shiva’s linga within the main temple. The bull is often dressed by worshippers with bells, clappers, and a necklace of flowers.

Nandi in family life

This bull/cow also protects your house and gives joy & pleasure.

His white color symbolizes purity and justice.

Inside the house & village shrines, they are worshipped frequently with holy water, oil, milk, and ritual powder.

Over time this gives the Nandi a nice patina.

Many children use them also as toys, they make wheels under the cow and run around all over the street.

Hence the result is that many cows are missing ears and their tails.

Women often go to the temple bringing floral offerings, touching the stone statue of the Nandi, and praying for good luck, more money and even getting pregnant…

How to buy a good quality Nandi

• The original position of a Nandi is reclined, these are the real old ones. Approximately 80-120 years old. Often found in teakwood brown color or faded blue & green colors.
• The next quality is where the Nandi is put on a base. Some with or without wheels. Age of these are around 50-80 years. Often carved from hardwood in blue/red/green/pink or teak color. Also, they can be overpainted so the old paint comes out.
• Then comes the 20-50-year-old Nandi’s. Less nice carvings and details, but depending on the owner there is some quality. Now this is a very mixed lot.
• Anything less than 20 years old and even made yesterday is pretty much the same. Only very light easily carved wood is used. There is no real patina. White is the most used color, often adorned with fake decorations.

Our buying

The last category, although they are offered to me, I would not buy these. Unless a catalog buyer wants them and it is described as new. These are the Nandis without a soul.

The oldest & most original and reclined version is often smaller in height. Somehow these are less attractive and less wanted as well. The real pleasure goes into the 50-80-year-old Nandi’s. Hard to find and nowadays collection items.

Where I was able to buy them 15-20 years ago in quantity, it is now collecting them one by one. Prices have gone up and up, but I keep on buying them. We regard them as a nice collection object, like a painting or statue. In any case, a good Nandi does give you pleasure when you look at him.

50-80 years old Nandi’s

We always have several Nandi’s up for sale. They are kept in our upstairs gallery. So when you do visit us in Amsterdam, keep them in your mind. Take one home for your collection or give it to a special friend!

Het bericht Nandi – Holy cow verscheen eerst op Raw Materials.

Our buyers travel the world to find furniture and accessories to enhance your home. With each journey, they bring back items with an interesting background story.

In this month’s ‘Story Of..’, we want to tell you more about our authentic urulis (urli, charakku or varpu). Read more below.

South India cooking vessels

An uruli, is made of bell-metal and is one of the largest cooking vessels. The surface of the vessel is made up of old gold tint which maintains its original colour and luster. Urulis do not require any kind of polishing or tinning. These vessels are used on ceremonial occasions to prepare payasam (a sweet dish made out of coconut milk) in large quantities. Also used in temples for cooking dhal and rice over open fires for temple festivals and for pilgrims. They were lifted into the hot coals of the fire with ropes that went through the side handles. The urulis traveled with the tribe from place to place.

Cauldron Casting of Kerala

The Moosari community of traditional metal casters of the Kammalan caste in Kerala have perfected the complex technique of casting large cauldrons in one single piece, using the lost-wax process (cire perdue). The charakku and the uruli are the two important vessels made by the Musaris. The preferred metal for casting is bronze.

The process

So arduous is the process of preparing the clay mould, the wax replica, and the final casting, that elaborate ritual prescriptions are observed by the Musaris for a faultless casting.

Using the cire perdue or lost wax method of casting, elaborate rituals, and the propitiation

Of the gods traditionally accompany the casting. The process starts with the invocation to lord Ganapati (Ganesh) and ritual blessings.

The core is made using a variety of clays, each of which is selected for its plasticity, bonding properties, strength, or surface finish. The process of making the clay mould is a very detailed and laborious job. A mixture of pure beeswax, tree resin, and castor oil, prepared according to traditional means, is pinched onto the core in rolls or beaten into sheets and applied. Gauges for resin thickness are affixed to ensure an even rim and a constancy of the body. A heater tool is used to remove the access wax while the core is turned and surface motifs made of wax rolls that are carved out of wax plates are attached. Wax runners made broad at the top and narrow at the joint and distributed so as to ensure a convenient and balanced inflow of metal are placed at intervals.

The outcome of the solid metal mould depends on the precise and careful handling of both the mould and molten metal special prayers and rituals are conducted throughout the process to ensure a perfect result.

Usability

The uruli can be found in many traditional South Indian homes. There are several sizes for different functions:

• Small ones are used in family homes and have a more decorative function.
• Very large ones “varpul” are used for cooking on occasions that require a big amount of food.

With its shallow circular shape, the uruli is also used to display flower decor in traditional homes for the New Year. Flower petals and candles float in them to honor deities or welcome guests to a home.

These days many resorts and hotels use them at the entrance, filled with water, and inside flowers or lights floating for a natural peaceful feeling. It would also make a lovely garden feature as a planter or water feature as a small pond.

Age

All our Urulis are selected pieces, they are in a beautiful and original condition. The bronze urulis display a great used and aged patina. Approximately is the age of our urulis 100 to 150 years old.

Design

A stark simplicity: its smooth spatial contours lend a resolute solemnity to its size and utility as a ritual cooking vessel. The basin has a flattened bottom, and curved sides leading to a broad lip. The handles are decorative with scrolling motifs but are also thick and robust. Bamboo rods or ropes were inserted in the basins, so their contents could be carried. Each uruli is unique in size, function, patina & design. Often there are names, markings, or designs visible on the sides. The quality is unrivalled and you will appreciate them for life.

Het bericht Urulis verscheen eerst op Raw Materials.

Our buyers travel the world to find furniture and accessories to enhance your home. With each journey, they bring back items with an interesting background story.

In this month’s ‘Story Of..’, we want to tell you more about our authentic Himachal Pradesh boxes. Read more below.

A Himachal Pradesh storage box proves that form and function can beautifully align! These carved tribal chests come from the state of Himachal Pradesh, Northern India. This area is a neighbor to the Himalayan mountain range.

Residence of the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan influence is powerful in this region, dotted with monasteries and Buddhist temples. Intoxicating incense smoke would drift amongst the scattered Tibetan temples and Buddhist monasteries and float through the windows of traditional Himachali homes. It is certainly a place with a magical undercurrent, a magic that we believe has been infused into these beautiful pieces..

Nomads

This Himachal blanket or prayer chest was originally made by nomadic people from Northern India. The trunk was made with an ingenuous dowel method that allowed it to be set up and broken down easily. It was so important that it traveled with the tribe from place to place.

Designs

Hand-hewn & crafted from teak, cedar, or pine wood. Roughly cut into planks with an adze. The front is often chip-carved with designs that have been used for centuries. Designs often include a stylized lotus, a symbol of fertility and longevity in Hindu culture.

Construction

The construction of this chest reflects the way of life of its nomadic owners. They had to be able to transport their possessions during their travels. So this chest is not joined with nails, but with a system of tenons and wedges that allows it to be easily disassembled and reassembled. The bas-relief of this chest depicts scenes of everyday life. The lid, once opened, can be blocked with a hook. Its closure with its metal chain is original.

Original usage

These beautiful boxes, and their engravings, were unique to the home and family to which they belonged. Exquisitely engraved, and painted in a moody shade of black, they are approximately 70-100 years old. They were once used to store grain and keep it safe and dry from the freezing temperatures. It also kept goods like wheat, onions, potatoes, as well as blankets. It has its original hardware and often beautiful symmetrical floral motifs hand-carved into its center.

Copy cats

This crude-looking chest is characteristic of the Himalayan region. Similar ones can be found as far away as Pakistan and even Afghanistan, most often with geometric sculptures. You will find many old chests on the market similar to this one. Beware because most of the engravings have been added recently. An easy way to see if it is a real old chest is to look at the carvings. If the geometrical patterns have sharp edges it is newly chiselled. Also, look at the connections, they must have signs of wear and tear. The old ones were made of red cedarwood, which also kept the flies away. New ones are made from pinewood.

Maintenance

Its original patina having been kept intact, we recommend that you only use a dry cloth to clean this antique chest. For a glossy patina, use natural bee wax.

Woodcrafts

Himachal is one of those areas in India where wood has played a significant role as a structural material. Pine, Cedrus deodara, walnut, horse chestnut, and wild black mulberry are found in abundance in Himachal Pradesh. Places famous for woodcraft are Chamba, Tisza, Kalpa, Kinnaur district, and Kullu. Village homes are constructed with carvings on doors, windows, balcony panels, etc. This can be found in remote areas of the state, especially in the districts of Kinnaur and Kullu.

Vernacular Grain Storage – Himachal Pradesh

In the heavily forested areas of Kinnaur, timber is a favored material for grain storage. Not surprisingly the region is home to a strong tradition of wood carving. The Above image shows a grain storage room that is over 100 years old. Lovingly carved with a handcrafted iron padlock perhaps as old as the grain storage. All signs of the highly talented craftspeople of this mountain region. Built from the durable, decay and pest-resistant timber Deodar, these structures outlive those who build them.

Het bericht Himachal Pradesh verscheen eerst op Raw Materials.

Explore the sustainable production process of the beautiful vases from Raw Materials’ Chalk collection. In this detailed description, we take you through the creation of these accessories, from the eco-friendly materials to the craftsmanship behind each design. Learn all about the making of these unique home accessories.

Eco-mix

The vases, pots, and bowls are crafted from eco-friendly papier-mâché. First, old newspapers are soaked in water and then pulped in a machine. This pulp is then mixed with finely ground chalk powder or limestone, with natural tree resin serving as a binder. The resin crystals are melted in warm water and added to the mixture, which is then sieved to obtain the base material with the right substance and consistency.

Base material to finished product

From base material to the final design: first, clay blocks are pounded into sheets with a wooden hammer. Next, the clay sheet is placed into a mold and pressed on the sides. Two half molds are joined and wrapped with a band, while extra clay is pressed into the seams. After the mold has dried in the air for 1-2 days, it is opened, and excess clay is trimmed away. All small holes are then filled by hand. The end product is left to air dry for another 3-5 days before being sprayed with a sealer to prevent color transfer.

Craftsmanship

The entire process revolves around two essential elements that Raw Materials values greatly: the use of natural materials and craftsmanship. It’s worth noting that each new design starts as a plaster model, which is cut to create a mold. The plaster molds can be reused 10 to 12 times. This process is predominantly manual labor, ensuring the finest outcome.

Maintenance

Apart from occasional dusting with a dry cloth, no maintenance is required. Please note: the items in this collection are not waterproof.

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Het bericht Chalk verscheen eerst op Raw Materials.

Step into the world of timeless charm and rustic elegance with our collection of antique folding tables, market tables, vintage wood folding tables, and tent tables. Each piece carries a traditional story, originating from Indian weddings, public gatherings, and festivals. Transported by trucks and assembled for the duration of the festivities, these tables bear the marks of their journey, reflecting the passage of time through their weathered, distressed finish. Read more about your new conversation-starting piece of furniture.

Origin

These folding tables were used at Indian weddings, public functions, and festivals. Transported by trucks and assembled for the duration of each event, celebration, or gathering. Once the festivities ended, they were folded and loaded onto trucks, ready for their next journey, off to a new venue.

Authenticity

Our old and vintage folding tables have an authentic charm that cannot be replicated. With time, they have acquired a beautiful weathered, distressed finish, bearing the marks of their rich history. Each table has unique markings and scratches, a tribute to its age and the countless gatherings it has witnessed. It’s all giving character and authenticity to the tables.

New purpose

These versatile folding tables are ideal for small apartments or cafes, restaurants, and bars, offering convenience and practicality in any setting. Their design makes them effortless to transport and store. When folded, these tables have a slim profile. Maximize storage capacity without sacrificing functionality.

Buying process

We source large quantities of old and used folding tables from various regions across India, bringing them to our factory for restoration. Here, our skilled craftsmen undertake the task of refurbishing each table with care and precision. Old and broken planks are seamlessly replaced with salvaged counterparts, while sharp nails are removed and the tabletop is refinished to restore it to its former glory.

Recognizing that table legs often don’t make it another round, we reinforce the legs with durable iron supports or we add new legs from recycled wood. This crucial step prevents the tables from wobbling or shifting during use.

Our commitment to quality craftsmanship sets us apart from others in the market. Each table undergoes thorough inspection and restoration, ensuring that it meets our standards before it leaves our facility. Through this attention to detail, we preserve the character of each piece.

Maintenance

With proper maintenance, this table is guaranteed to last for years to come. At the start and end of each season, we advise to apply teak oil on all sides of the table. For the metal parts, we recommend linseed oil. By following these simple maintenance steps, you’ll not only preserve its beauty but also protect it against weather and daily use.

We hope you will enjoy your folding table and add many more stories during its life.

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Het bericht Folding tables verscheen eerst op Raw Materials.

Our dedicated buyers travel the world to discover the most exquisite furniture and accessories to enhance your home. With each journey, they bring back fascinating stories that breathe life into the latest additions to our collections. We enjoy in sharing these stories with you, as our vintage pieces not only elevate your living space but also serve as delightful conversation starters. Envision a Saturday night, surrounded by your loved ones, narrating the captivating story behind your newest treasure.

Origin

The neckpots we buy are mostly coming from the TERAI region in Nepal. Other regions have them as well but the Terai is a lower situated region. Agriculture & Livestock is mainly done here and farmers use these neckpots daily.

Materials

Made from local hardwood but still with daily use they broke once in a while. In those times, they were precious so farmers repaired them with metal plates. With the introduction of metal goods which did not break, they disappeared. Made obsolete and out of use but fortunately farmers never throw away anything! 

Buying process

They were stored away for many years and now they are collectables. To collect them, a person needs to go from house to house in the small villages. The person who collects them paints them with his own color code. Several batches with colors are going into a truck. Ultimately a truck filled with old neckpots is driven over the border into India. From here we are notified and upon arrival, we inspect them and selectively buy them. Since they have become popular, they are nowadays much harder to find and prices have gone up.

The final stage decides the finish, black or waxed or left completely natural. Even though they are washed, you can still smell the butter and milk, though it is now only a slight smell. These are truly old and authentic neckpots with many years of usage behind them. We are very happy to pass them on to a new life & purpose.

Het bericht Neckpots verscheen eerst op Raw Materials.