OTHER VETERAN CARPENTERS AND PAINTERS

During the Portuguese period, the Jesuit missionaries were the first to introduce   the local Latins into a new avenue of carpentry. Furniture Making therefore became a means to a decent living. It required fine finish of the product. Vakkachan Ikkanad and Antappan Suryappally were one of the best carpenters in furniture making. I have watched Vakkachan manually cutting and planning and then making grooves, step cutting and shaping were done using chisels of various sizes and shapes. Hammering of the wood was done with a wooden mallet. I still remember the ledge, made by Vakkachan, which was presented by my father to St. Mary’s Church, when he was the celebrant for the main feast of Mother of Sorrows (Mary). The parishioners appreciated his talents in carpentary work. His son Shaji Vakkachan is a veteran in wood-carving. It is really amazing to watch the altar, doors on the sanctury, pillars, and the railings around the altar of St. Joseph’s Church at Kumbalam, which were made of teak wood with exquisite carvings, one of his master-pieces.

Raphael Mudayath, Meenkachan Ikkanad, Thomas Thachappally are also well known carpenters in building construction like making wooden doors, windows and roof construction.

I am amazed to see the variety of Japanese and other modern electric tools and gadjets, which are used widely by the carpenters nowadays for speedy plaining, drilling, cutting, shaping and carving of wood. The question that now arises is; would these modern tools and sophistication make the carpenters lethargic and reduce their skill?

The polishing work is the culmination of a good piece of attractive furniture. Peter Thekkevelikkakath, Sasi and Sreeni Vazhavelil, Sabish Vadakkanat and Jeevan Kuttikat are popular for their polishing and varnishing works. They are also experts in wall painting.  They do spray painting as well.

Excerpts from

MEMOIRS

An autobiography

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

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