Roots matter. Where things come from, where we come from. Our roots explain the unexplainable: why we crave tastes we didn’t grow up with, or why we love the sea as though we’re made of it even though we were born in the city. Our roots are the nurture to our nature – the background to who we are, whether we are conscious of it or not.
All the pieces we at Artemano ship home from our explorations have deep roots, and sometimes they come with stories. The trees from which the Siam tables grew under the sunlight and rain of thousands of days long past almost 200 years ago, in a land known at that time as Siam, and today known as Thailand.
This wood is not like anything we have seen before – the grain, the colors – each table carries the stories and myths of Thailand. Thus the Garuda table may as well be called the table of kings, as Garuda is the king of all birds. His image is used as a symbol of the monarchy itself, and we believe that the Garuda table is worthy of feasting those you love in a kingly fashion.
The grace of the grain inspired the Kinnari table. In Thai mythology the Kinnari is a beautiful half-woman, half swan creature celebrated for her excellence in song and dance. Thus the Kinnari table holds a creative force, and we hope it imbues your gatherings with song, dance and poetry.
The Naga table is named after the Naga, a serpent-like protector of Buddha. Naga often acts as a guardian against bad spirits and is frequently portrayed giving comfort and shade to the meditating Buddha, the coils of the great snake acting as a cushion while the many heads function as an umbrella. We believe the strength of the wood imbues this table with safety and protection for all those who gather around it.
There are many stories to be told about our latest treasures, but the ones that matter the most are those you will create for yourself.