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A craftsman carving in the atelier

Home — Craftsmanship

The Atelier

Nine pairs of hands.

Every commission passes through carvers, gilders and upholsterers before it passes through your door. Nothing is machined that can be made by hand; nothing is rushed that can be done properly. This is how a Danichgah piece is built.

Carving in the atelier

01 — Craft

Carving

Every frame begins as solid beech or walnut, drawn full-size and carved by hand. No two are identical, because no two are machined — the acanthus on your armchair is cut by a person who signs it.

Joinery in the atelier

02 — Craft

Joinery

Cases are dovetailed and mortised by hand, veneers laid one leaf at a time. It is slower, and it is the reason a Danichgah cabinet outlives the room it was made for.

Gilding in the atelier

03 — Craft

Gilding

We water-gild in 23.5-carat gold leaf over hand-laid gesso and bole — the old, patient method that gives gold its depth. Antiquing is done by hand, to order, never printed.

Upholstery in the atelier

04 — Craft

Upholstery

Seats are sprung eight ways and hand-tied, built up in horsehair and cotton, then upholstered in the fabric you choose. Sit in one and you feel the difference before you see it.

Finishing in the atelier

05 — Craft

Finishing

Waxing, polishing and the final antiquing are done by eye, in daylight. A finish is judged the way you will judge it — across a room, at rest.

Quality control in the atelier

06 — Craft

Quality control

Nothing leaves without a final inspection at Villa Ispahan, in the light of a real room. Then it is signed, numbered, and delivered white-glove into yours.

A master gilder at the bench

Meet the Artisans

The people behind the pieces.

Our master gilder trained for eleven years before touching a client’s commission. Our head upholsterer still hand-ties every spring. We name them on the piece because the piece is theirs as much as yours.

“A machine can copy the shape. It cannot copy the intention.”
Master Gilder · The Maison Danichgah Atelier
See their work in situ

The film