If you’ve been a homeowner for a while or even have your own room, you probably have these special items strewn around your space that make you feel at home. Often, they’re items with sentimental value, exceptional aesthetic and material value, or little treasures gathered from past travels, especially to exotic or faraway locations. If the latter is your absolute favourite, you’re going to love these 5 must-have handicrafts every unique home should be adorned with. 

These items are traditional hand-made pieces of art crafted by hard-working, talented artisan hands worldwide. Places known for their picturesque beauty like a piece of paradise on earth, it’s no wonder then that the people of these regions have taken to expressing the beauty of their lands and the poetry and literature of their rich cultures into these gorgeous decorative items:

1. Woven Carpets

Carpet weaving began with Persian weavers brought by Sultan Zain al Abedeen. The locals took an interest in the art form of “Kal Baffi”, or hand-knotted carpets, passing the tradition through generations until it became an essential form of handicrafts. The special aspect lies in fabric choice, embroidery, and colour palette, typically using wool or silk yarn based on the desired size of the final product (carpet or rug). The more complex these delicate works of art are, the higher the quality and value. 

2. Wood Carvings 

Numerous artisans specialise in wood carving using the region‘s unique walnut trees, primitive to the lands, making their creations distinctive. And what better choice than the sturdy wood of walnut trees for hard work like wood carving and producing various home decor items and smaller pieces such as tables, nightstands, trays, and jewellery boxes.

3. Mughal Paintings

You’ve seen paintings like this somewhere, but you just can’t remember where. But you remember it grabbing your attention for a minute as your eyes attempt to decipher the story behind the beautifully drawn characters and items in the painting, feeling like there’s a meaning behind this particular piece.

A well-known miniature school painting that emerged in the 17th and 18th centuries. It is known for its vivid colouring, bold lines, and striking facial patterns. Created on Veale papers with squirrel hair brushes, pigments derived from beetle wings, flowers, leaves, and Khadiya soil, which are challenging to find, add to its distinctiveness. Adorned with lines of pure gold and silver, it’s no mystery why they may be expensive. The intricacy, detail, and precision needed to generate even the tiniest painting are extraordinary, and each one is flawless, making it an expression of artistic perfection in your home.

4. Copperware

Introduced in Iran and Iraq around 700 years back, this gorgeous type of craftsmanship evolved from the art of decorating sword handles using iron casting/forging and Meenakari (enamelling). Sword handle decoration became less popular with the demise of the Mughal era during the 19th century, leading metallurgists to redirect their efforts and talent towards tamer items such as pots, jugs, brass, silver jewellery, and trays, adorning them with the intricate and beloved craft of Meenakari.

If you’re the type of person who likes to have luxury items they can use and not strictly for decorative purposes, this is the most artistic type of utensils your guests could possibly stare wide-eyed at while you serve them afternoon tea.

5. Crewel, Needlework, hook work, and embroidery

These skills also create gorgeous floor pieces, originating from the habit of sitting on the floor, making it comfortable and warm in the winter months, not to mention absolutely beautiful. In addition to shawls, with natural patterns such as flowers, leaves, trees, vines, and birds.

Curious about handicrafts? Recent homeowner wondering what the next perfect piece to complete your decor will be? Browse The Effect Art‘s beautiful gallery of magnificent pieces brought directly from grassroots artisans’ talented hands.