'Vanya' Platter in Wood

Provenance

The Vanya platter belongs to the tradition of natural-wood turned and shaped wares from North Indian woodworking workshops — a tradition of making functional objects from wood in which the material itself, rather than applied surface decoration, is the primary statement. The dark wood ground is left natural, the surface presenting the grain and warmth of the material without print or paint. The metal handles are cast and fitted, adding a functional and visual accent to the wooden form.

Unlike the printed woodware pieces in the Brahm collection — whose surfaces carry ornament in the tradition of lacquered and decorated domestic objects — Vanya belongs to a different register of craft: the turned wood form, valued for its material quality, its weight in the hand, its natural variation. The dark brown finish deepens with use, the wood acquiring character over time. Vanya in Sanskrit names the quality of being forest-born, of the wild — the material that comes from the tree rather than from the workshop's ornamental vocabulary. Available in two sizes: small (8in diam) and large (12in diam).

Each platter is individually worked; variations in grain, tone, and finish between pieces are natural features of the material. The metal handles may show minor variations in surface finish consistent with handcrafted metalwork.

Disclaimer

• These platters are handcrafted in natural wood. Variations in grain, colour, and tone are natural features of the material.
• Minor imperfections in the wood surface or metal fittings are characteristic of handcrafted work and are not defects.