Woodwork, Furniture & Lacquer made in Pakistan

This family covers carved furniture, lacquer (jandi) items, serveware, boxes, walnut carving, papier-mâché and wooden toys. Chiniot is famous for carved furniture, Sillanwali and D.I. Khan for striped lacquer, and Azad Kashmir for walnut carving and papier-mâché. Hala, Swat, Lahore and Hunza add more crafts.

131product types
17main categories
4provinces

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Hand-carved wooden furniture from Chiniot — Photo: Furniture craftsmanship in Chiniot by Marsmux, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)

In simple words

Who buys it, and where to start

Gift buyers, home décor shoppers, interior designers and South Asian families abroad buy these. Solid wood and hand carving cost far less in Pakistan than in the West.

Good first products

Christmas ornaments: Hand-painted papier-mâché baubles from Azad Kashmir are light and suit Western holiday markets.
Brass-inlay boxes: Small boxes ship easily and work as keepsake and groomsmen gifts.
Wooden spoons: Sheesham utensil sets suit plastic-free kitchens.

Be careful with

Carved beds and dining sets are heavy and costly to ship; they suit container orders, not beginners.
Wooden toys need toy safety testing, so leave them until you have experience.

Quick facts

Made in: Chiniot, Sillanwali, Hala, D.I. Khan, Swat, AJK (walnut and papier-mâché), Lahore, Hunza
Product types: 131 in 17 categories
Types with extra rules: 8 of 131
Best places to sell: Etsy, Amazon, Shopify, eBay, B2B

In pictures

See the products

Some photos show similar products made elsewhere, to help you recognise them. Credits at the bottom of the page.

The full list

All 131 types of woodwork, furniture & lacquer

Each product type below is a possible niche. Make it yours by adding one buyer and one angle, for example “biker jackets for women riders, made to measure”. ⚠ means extra rules apply.

Main category	Types and styles	Made in
Carved Furniture	Carved beds, Dining sets, Chiniot sofa sets, Side tables, Console tables, Carved chairs, Dressing tables, Coffee tables, Chinioti carved beds, Carved dining sets, Carved sofa sets, Carved dressing tables, Carved wooden swings (jhoola), Carved mirror frames, Carved wedding chests (sandook), Mughal-style antique reproduction furniture, Carved kids' furniture^⚠	Chiniot, Sillanwali, Hala, D.I. Khan, Swat, AJK (walnut and papier-mâché), Lahore, Hunza
Lacquer (Jandi) Items	Lacquered stools, Pidhi seats, Charpai legs, Lacquer bowls, Lacquer boxes, Lacquer cradles, Lacquer vases, Lacquer candy jars^⚠, Turned fruit baskets, Lacquer wall clocks, Lacquer rolling pins, Lacquer pepper mills, Lacquer candle stands, Lacquer napkin rings, Lacquer pen holders, Lacquer bangle stands	Chiniot, Sillanwali, Hala, D.I. Khan, Swat, AJK (walnut and papier-mâché), Lahore, Hunza
Naqshi Serveware	Carved trays, Serving bowls, Dry-fruit boxes, Cake stands, Chip & dip sets	Chiniot, Sillanwali, Hala, D.I. Khan, Swat, AJK (walnut and papier-mâché), Lahore, Hunza
Jewellery & Keepsake Boxes	Jewellery boxes, Brass-inlay boxes, Keepsake boxes, Trinket boxes, Tea boxes	Chiniot, Sillanwali, Hala, D.I. Khan, Swat, AJK (walnut and papier-mâché), Lahore, Hunza
Kitchen Utensils	Wooden spoons, Spatulas, Rolling pins (belan), Chakla boards, Salad servers, Spice boxes, Wooden kneading bowls (kathra), Wooden butter churns (madhani), Wooden mortar and pestle, Roti boxes, Wooden lemon squeezers, Wooden ladles (Peshawari)	Chiniot, Sillanwali, Hala, D.I. Khan, Swat, AJK (walnut and papier-mâché), Lahore, Hunza
Quran Stands (Rehal)	Folding rehal, Carved rehal, Kids' rehal^⚠, Rehal with box, Engraved name rehal	Chiniot, Sillanwali, Hala, D.I. Khan, Swat, AJK (walnut and papier-mâché), Lahore, Hunza
Wooden Toys	Spinning tops (lattu), Push toys, Stacking toys, Puzzles, Toy vehicles, Ludo boards, Carrom boards	Chiniot, Sillanwali, Hala, D.I. Khan, Swat, AJK (walnut and papier-mâché), Lahore, Hunza
Walnut-Wood Carvings	Walnut bowls, Walnut boxes, Walnut screens, Walnut tables, Walnut trays, Walnut figurines, Apricot-wood spoons, Apricot-wood tableware^⚠, Walnut-wood bowls, Walnut-wood accessory cases, Carved wooden ornaments, Walnut-wood serving trays	Chiniot, Sillanwali, Hala, D.I. Khan, Swat, AJK (walnut and papier-mâché), Lahore, Hunza
Wall Panels & Doors	Carved doors, Wall panels, Jharokha windows, Room dividers, Headboards, Mirror frames	Chiniot, Sillanwali, Hala, D.I. Khan, Swat, AJK (walnut and papier-mâché), Lahore, Hunza
Papier-mâché (AJK)	Papier-mâché boxes, Christmas ornaments, Pen boxes, Bangle holders	Chiniot, Sillanwali, Hala, D.I. Khan, Swat, AJK (walnut and papier-mâché), Lahore, Hunza
Photo Frames & Wall Décor	Carved photo frames, Calligraphy plaques, Wall clocks, Shelves, Mirrors	Chiniot, Sillanwali, Hala, D.I. Khan, Swat, AJK (walnut and papier-mâché), Lahore, Hunza
Small Furniture & Stools	Moorha-style wooden stools, Folding tables, Plant stands, Bedside tables, Shoe racks, Bookshelves	Chiniot, Sillanwali, Hala, D.I. Khan, Swat, AJK (walnut and papier-mâché), Lahore, Hunza
Decorative Accessories	Candle stands, Wooden elephants, Hookah bases, Chess sets (wood)	Chiniot, Sillanwali, Hala, D.I. Khan, Swat, AJK (walnut and papier-mâché), Lahore, Hunza
Lifestyle & Handmade Furniture	Hand-carved accent chairs, Cane & rattan furniture, Painted wooden stools, Handmade side tables, Wooden wall shelves, Jharokha mirrors	Chiniot, Sillanwali, Hala, D.I. Khan, Swat, AJK (walnut and papier-mâché), Lahore, Hunza
Brass-Inlay Woodwork	Brass-inlay coffee tables, Brass-inlay trays, Brass-inlay mirror frames, Brass-inlay chests, Brass-inlay chess boards, Brass-inlay wall panels, Brass-inlay pen boxes, Brass-inlay bedside tables	Chiniot, Lahore
Wooden Desk & Office Items	Desk organisers, Laptop stands, Monitor risers, Desk name plates, Pen stands, Phone and tablet stands, Letter trays, Wooden calendars	Chiniot, Gujrat, Rawalpindi, Okara & Sahiwal
Sculptural Wooden Lighting	Sculptural wooden floor lamps^⚠, Carved wooden table lamps^⚠, Walnut-finish bedside lamps^⚠, Wooden pendant shades, Organic-shape lamp bases (unwired)^⚠	Chiniot, Swat, Lahore

Ideas to sell

5 product ideas to research

Striped lacquer pepper mills for colourful-kitchen buyers
Sell on: Etsy · Made in: Sillanwali · Sillanwali and Hala lathe lacquer is a unique striped style
Brass-inlay mirror frames from Chiniot for Mughal-style interiors
Sell on: B2B · Made in: Chiniot · Chiniot carvers inlay brass by hand at low labour cost
Carved sheesham monitor risers for home offices
Sell on: Amazon · Made in: Chiniot · Solid sheesham and carving skills cost far less than in the West
Hand-turned Peshawari kneading bowls for bread bakers
Sell on: Etsy · Made in: Peshawar · Peshawar Qissa Khwani turners carve these from one block
Wooden butter churns (madhani) as rustic kitchen décor
Sell on: Etsy · Made in: Peshawar · Traditional village tool still made in Punjab and KP

Ideas from our November 2026 research. Check demand, costs and rules before you invest.

How to start

First steps

Ask a Chiniot workshop for a sample box and a carved tray, and check the joints and finish.
Ask what finish is used, and choose food-safe, lead-free finishes for spoons, bowls and pepper mills.
Order papier-mâché ornaments early so they arrive well before the Christmas season.

Check your profit with the calculator

Rules in plain words

What to check

Wooden packing for export may need fumigation (ISPM 15), and the EU asks importers to show where timber came from. Kitchen items need a food-safe, lead-free finish and may need testing, and toys fall under children's product rules. Wired lamps need electrical safety marks.

Anything with a plug or bulb needs electrical safety marks (such as UL, CE or UKCA) for the country you sell to. (4 product types)
Children's products: they need safety tests for small parts, cords and chemicals before you sell them. (2 product types)
Food, cosmetics and supplements: they need proper labels, and often lab tests or registration. (1 product types)
Plates, cups and food containers must be tested as safe for food (for example for lead). (1 product types)

This is a summary, not legal advice. See the compliance checklist.

Explore more

Questions

Frequently asked questions

What is jandi lacquer?

It is a bright striped finish made by pressing coloured lacquer onto wood as it turns on a lathe. Sillanwali, Hala and D.I. Khan are known for it.

Is sheesham furniture worth exporting?

Solid sheesham and carving cost much less in Pakistan than in the West. Big pieces are heavy, so beginners should start with small items or flat-pack designs.

Do I need to treat wood before shipping?

Wooden crates and pallets often need fumigation under ISPM 15. Ask your shipper what is needed and keep the papers.

Want to sell woodwork, furniture & lacquer abroad?

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