Sunday, March 24, 2013

CHAGGA SOFT WOOD CARVERS AT WORK

Hi! Today i want to show you some digital images of the Chagga soft wood carvers whilst working and i will give you a brief explanation as we go along.



Above Stewart Minja preparing the initial rough stage of the piece wood to be carved. And behind him there is a tray which he has already carved.


                                          Above Moses Mlay carving the inside of a wooden bowl.

               Above softwood carver of Mamba Msae working on the inside of a wooden tray.

                                        Elia Mlay chiselling the inside of musical drum frame.

                       Above Moses Mlay shaving the inside of a wooden tray using a wood shaver.

                        Above Moses Minja doing the finishing touches on a salad server.

Above Gillead Minja doing the finishing touches on a  wooden container for putting small things like jewelry.

Above Mzee Rodrick Minja working on the inside of a wooden container. He is amongst the oldest  few, softwood carvers who still carve.

                           Moses Mlay decorating a carved piece using scorching technique.


                            Above Moses Mlay  scorch decorate a carved musical drum.

                                     Moses Mlay scorch decorate a carved salad server.
Moses Mlay,  scorch decorating a wooden bowl whilst Elia Mlay maintains the fire at red hot, by using a blower made from goat skin. Fire is used for heating scorching tools.

                Elia Mlay doing the finishing touches on a carved wooden musical drum.

       A softwood carver of Mamba Msae doing sanding work on a carved wooden oval bowl.

                                  Elia Mlay doing the finishing touches on salad servers.

                                                   Some of the scorching tools and blower.

                     Blogger Paul Siairuka Njau visiting late Dawson Mboya at his workshop/ home, Mamba Masiha.
                 Blogger Paul Siairuka Njau chiseling on the inside of a wooden musical drum frame, at Mamba Msae softwood carvers workshop.
A British man trying to shave the inside of a wooden bowl at Mamba Msae softwood carvers workshop.

If you are interested to visit soft wood carvers, we can always arrange that for you, i hope you have learnt something from the digital images.

                                                SANAA ZETU
Dealers of : Home Accessories,souvenirs, curios and gift items. 
                                    And it is always there to cater for your needs.
                                                          KARIBU