Why Chiniot is known for furniture
Chiniot sits on the banks of the Chenab in Punjab, and for generations its workshops have been where Pakistan's Sheesham furniture is made. Ask a buyer in Islamabad or Lahore what "Chinioti" means and they will describe the same things: solid Sheesham, deep hand carving on headboards and chair backs, and frames heavy enough that you notice when you try to move them.
The town's furniture trade is built on Sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo), the Punjabi tali. It is a wood that rewards a carver: it cuts crisply, holds fine detail and finishes to a warm golden-brown that darkens with age.
The craft, in three parts
Carving. Chinioti carving is done by hand with chisels and gouges: floral scrolls, vines and geometric borders cut into solid wood, not pressed or glued on. Depth is what separates good carving from decoration: the shadows in a deep-cut headboard are what make it look rich in lamplight.
Joinery. Traditional Chinioti pieces are joined, not just screwed. Mortise-and-tenon joints in bed frames and chairs, properly fitted drawers and rails that are cut to take weight. Good joinery is what lets a bed survive decades of use, a house move and a second generation.
Finishing. Raw Sheesham is sanded, filled and polished in coats until the grain shows evenly. Whether you choose a natural tone or a deeper shade, the finish is what you touch every day.
Why Sheesham, and what the numbers say
Sheesham averages about 770 kg/m³ with a Janka hardness of 1,660 lbf, and its heartwood is rated durable to very durable (Wood Database). In a Pakistani laboratory and field study it was the most termite-resistant of ten local woods tested (Pakistan Journal of Zoology, 2017), though no wood is termite-proof. Read the full picture on our Sheesham wood page.
That is why solid Sheesham heartwood pieces from our workshop carry our 50-year Sheesham wood guarantee: our own commercial guarantee on the wood, for indoor domestic use, with clear conditions.
"Chinioti" is a style, not a certificate
There is no official certification for Chinioti furniture. The word describes where and how a piece is made, and some sellers use it loosely. Two questions worth asking anyone: where exactly was this made, and is every structural part solid Sheesham heartwood, or are there board panels inside? Our answer is simple: every piece is made in our own workshop in Chiniot, and the wood of each part is written on your invoice.
Made in Chiniot, chosen in Islamabad
We have been making furniture since 1985. The workshop in Chiniot is where frames are cut, joined, carved and finished; the showroom in the Golra Road furniture market is where you see the pieces, compare woods and finishes, and order. We deliver across Islamabad and Rawalpindi, and if you have a design of your own, we will build it for you.