A bit of Oman and its traditions are depicted by this craftsman from Yiti, now based in Al Amerat.
He makes miniature traditional wooden cradles amongst many other mementoes based on the Sultanate of Oman. He designs and creates traditional utensils. To stack them, he has the wall model with built-in shelves found in the traditional Omani houses.
Khalifa al Hadi had chosen mechanical and electrical for his vocational training course, including welding. But a different craft that kept attracting him was carpentry. He had no training but had an urge to indulge in it, not surprising because he had watched his grandfather and granduncle build wooden boats and doors as a young boy.
“I could spend hours watching them work, and so when I had this interest in woodwork, the process came naturally,’ said Khalifa. He started his journey in 1994 in his village in Yiti Beach.
“Initially, I handcrafted boxes covered with seashells because my place is near the sea. Then in 2010, I registered at the ministry as a craftsman and for handicrafts. After that, I started attending exhibitions conducted by the ministries, colleges and hotels,” he explained.
He was a participant at Dubai Expo 2020. At this Ramadhan, Khalifa was exhibiting his handicrafts at Iftar organised by Talabat Oman at Sablat Rozna.
For more than 50 to 60 years, his grandfather made boats, doors and windows. He used to have his workshop by the beach. The wood was brought from India and the coasts of Africa, especially to make the small fishing boats.
“For the making of windows and doors, they used Omani wood such as Sidr and other varieties of trees. At the workshop, he used to also repair the boats. I also learnt a little bit about how to make windows,” he pointed out.
Now he makes miniature windows and doors, but where did his grandfather and granduncle sell the windows and doors?
People did not buy ready-made doors and windows then.
“They made as per orders. And the orders came from within the village and outside the village. In addition, part of their work was also to repair boats if the boats faced damages in the sea,” he said.
But now, the lifestyles have changed — the fishing boats are fibreglass made, and windows and doors are ordered online and even imported at times. Accordingly, Khalifa has also manoeuvred. He has been making the products in smaller sizes, selling them online through social media and showcasing his handmade collector’s items in exhibitions. He also has a passion for renovating old Omani wooden boxes — Mandoos, and even recycling them by making new products.
“I can make 12 small cradles in three days’ time. I take orders, and even if there are three orders, I make them in a group because it is easier and economical that way,” he noted.
In the meantime, he is also getting orders to make real-sized full-fledged cradles.
“Today, I have the machinery to cut the wood, and this makes the work easy and quick,” said an excited Khalifa, who has successfully maintained traditions in his own unique style. His Instagram account is @khalifahandmade. The fact is custom-made cradles are just a few km away.
@lakshmioman
