By Joey Aguilar/Staff Reporter
Many of the wooden items showcased at the first GCC Handicrafts Exhibition – from handmade traditional boxes to miniature dhows – are made of teak wood from India, said a number of entrepreneurs at the event which concludes today at Sheraton Doha.
Abdullah al-Haddad, a Qatari who specialises in making unique traditional boxes used for various purposes, finds the teak wood durable. It is widely used in making furniture, boats (dhows) and several other wooden products.
“This is the kind of wood that my father and I had been using to make these special boxes. It is quite expensive but the quality is really very good,” he said.
The Qatari entrepreneur is one of the few exhibitors at the event which officially opened on Wednesday. As a multipurpose box, al-Haddad noted that his product has many uses which makes it a popular handicraft item among residents of Qatar and other GCC countries.
Depending on the size, the traditional box serves as a good container for non-food items such as clothes, bags and other personal belongings.
Some of his customers prefer to use the small ones as jars for Arabic sweets usually given as gifts during special occasions such as Eid celebrations, National Day and weddings.
Al-Haddad’s clients from other GCC countries such as Oman, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait consider the product as a good jewellery box.
Kuwaiti national Kamel al-Qallaf also uses the same kind of wood to make miniature dhows of different sizes."We usually buy a large block of teak wood for 2,500 Kuwaiti Dinar," he said while admitting the price is quite high compared to other varieties but the wood is better than others.
Al-Qallaf claimed that he was able to produce the smallest miniature dhow, about a palm size of an average person. He said such handicrafts can be considered as collectors’ items for a reasonable price.
Prices of handmade products are normally high compared to mass produced items due to the “human factor:” artistic designs, the time consumed to finish it and the limited quantity produced.
The Kuwaiti also stressed that making miniature dhows, which is also often exhibited in many cultural festivals and activities in Qatar, is part of showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the region. The exhibition is open from 9am to 1pm and 4pm to 9pm today.
Abdullah al-Haddad exhibits his products at the first GCC Handicraft Exhibition at Sheraton Doha. PICTURE: Nasar TK
