Virtually all crafted by hand, these fabulous items only see modern day machinery (relatively speaking) for mammoth tasks like boring the hollows in vases and pots etc, etc…….
Once again, a similar process is undertaken, to Bamboo (except that Mango wood goes through the ‘soaking’ & ‘baking’ stages, after the rough design has been formed, not before) , in the fight against ‘Bugs’. Also, it is to ensure a controllable moisture level. Thus, each finished piece can withstand reasonable changes in temperature and maintain its beautiful appearance.
It is amazing to think that the transition from raw material to the finished decoration takes in the region of 13 -18 days per piece. Of course, the manufacturing process is streamlined to produce quite a number of pieces at any one stage. However, if you consider the rather antiquated, yet trusted, techniques and tools used, the industrialism and initiative is quite staggering.
Starting with a preservative/insect inhibiter, from start to finish each item receives approximately 10 coats of various high-build resins, high-build lacquers and colour stains. Each coating being rubbed down and polished to remove surplus prior to subsequent applications. Not too dissimilar to the process used on your own car .
My GallerAsia’s associate for Mango Wood products is a Northern Thai family, headed by their son Don.
