Chiang Mai Artisans: The Art of Wood Carving
In the highland city of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, I recently photographed various artisans at work.
Here’s a series of my images taken in a furniture workshop. Skillful wood carvers chisel intricate relief scenes from blocks of teak to create screens, sculptures and elaborate chairs while other artisans inlay delicate mother-of pearl designs decorating rosewood tabletops and cabinets.
Check out my previous post Chiang Mai Artisans: The Art of Making Traditional Thai Parasols.

Carving a rural Thai scene in teak

Wood carver’s toolbox

Carving flowers in teak

Wood carver’s tools

Carving in teak

Carving in teak

Carving in teak

Inserting mother-of-pearl inlay in rosewood

Inserting mother-of-pearl inlay in rosewood

Cutting mother-of-pearl designs for inlay

Carved wooden elephants on the back of a chair

Beautiful, twisted tree trunk with wood carving scene behind