Imam Furniture Story
BEGINNING OF FURNITURE IN SUB-CONTINENT
The Mughal brought the era of architecture, design, craft, and culture in the sub-continent. It was about 150 years ago that the subcontinent planted first shisham tree (Dilberggio Sisso). This tree took about 70 years to attain maturity before it could be used for the crafts of furniture. After cutting the tree it remained open for about 6 months during which its bark was naturally removed and then only it was sent to saw mill of sawing.
Until about 50 years ago, woodworking was more a craft than a scientifically established technology. Rising material and labor cost as well as new wood based materials; severe competition of other material, and new wood machining processes has led to many strategies of wood machining. Many goals have been sought, higher machining accuracy, kerfs loss reduction, increased safety, noise reduction and longer blade life.
Nevertheless wood machining and especially wood sawing is still and will remain a rather conservative technique. Sawing is the more important and most frequent process in woodworking and only a skilled man can directs how to convert the logs into planks. Proper technique will assist in attaining homogeneous vertical and horizontal grains. After proper sawing for three years, planks are stacked in proper fashion to eliminate the sap. Once this exercise is achieved then only cutting for furniture is introduced.
The furniture design is emphasized on comfort, beauty and durability. Once cabinet-marketing process is completed, then the finishing exercise can be achieved. Each and every corner is sanded and pores are filled and additional sanding is required to make it defect free smooth surface, which is later finishing with Nitrocellulose.
The piece of arts thus obtained by this effort has been used and would remain in use for 100 years in both private and public places. This art has passed on from one generation to another and these craftsmen have given dimensions to comfortable living in our society.