MANILA, Philippines - Made primarily from pine and other Himalayan soft woods, Tibetan furniture is a reflection of the culture, beliefs, and lifestyles in the so-called roof of the world. From the design point of view, the pattern of traditional Tibetan furniture has been mostly religious subjects, as well as landscapes, flowers, and other patterns. It is also unique in decorative techniques, including painting, jewelry, mosaic, sculpture, and the use of animal skin.
In recent years, Tibetan furniture has been known for its vitality, embodied in its design, decoration and color that have attracted more and more furniture enthusiasts, collectors and people who simply love decorating with style.
Our Home at SM City North Edsa’s Interior Zone now carries limited-edition Tibetan furniture collection.
There are classic chests, cabinets and tables, as well as modern pieces like chairs, lamps, alarm clocks, medicine boxes and incense burners. Made by skilled Tibetan craftsmen from the Norbulingka Institute in Dharamsala, India, these are painstakingly hand-carved from 100-percent natural materials. The designs use ancient Tibetan techniques of carpentry, decorative furniture painting and hand carving.
Tibetan cabinets were traditionally used for storage — anything from foodstuffs to religious objects, similar to the function of a Western chest of drawers. Cabinets were often built and decorated as pairs placed side by side. These are ornamented with paintings or wood carvings mostly in mystic patterns associated with religion, fortune and treasure.
Tables were used both in monasteries and in the houses of more affluent Tibetans. Some Tibetan tables were used simply for serving food or tea, while others had ceremonial functions and were used to hold ritual objects. Some tables fold into a flat unit, as these were transported from place to place either by monks or government officials.
It is also with tables that Tibetan wood carvers got to show off their greatest skills. Many tables are elaborately carved. Dragons and other fanciful animals, foliage, vines and bamboo are common motifs. More often than not, the carving is painted as well.
There is also a great deal of variations in table designs, more than any other type of Tibetan furniture. Some are light and airy with piece carved sides and backs; some of cabriole legs, while others are solidly anchored to the floor. Some have swinging doors concealing a compartment; others have full-length drawers which open from the side.
Along with some tables, covered storage boxes are among the earliest examples of Tibetan furniture. Techniques vary: painting of raw wood or over cloth and leather; finished with natural or dyed leather; gesso used to produce raised decorations. Traditionally, motifs consisted of a central medallion containing one, two or three dragons holding a tray of gems. The rest is filled with a floral or textile inspired pattern, strictly symmetrical with an outside order and corner scrollwork.
The limited-edition Tibetan furniture is currently on exhibit and for sale at Our Home SM North Edsa Interior Zone.