What Is Naht? Bringing Calligraphy to Wood

Naht is the three-dimensional application of a calligraphic script onto wood (or mother-of-pearl, ivory) by carving or inlay. In short: calligraphy from paper, carried onto wood and cut by hand. How is it made? First the calligrapher draws the script on paper in sulus proportions. Then the master transfers this pattern to wood and carves the letters with fine chisels (relief), or inlays mother-of-pearl piece by piece into a dark ground such as ebony. Why is it hard? The grain of the wood can disturb the flow of the letter; the master must turn the grain in the script's favour. A single wrong cut ruins the whole panel; there is no undoing it. Materials: Walnut, ebony and boxwood are the hardwoods most used; mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell for inlay. Its meaning: Naht is called 'the art of patience', for every millimetre asks the master to hold his breath. The 'Vav' panel in Arakiye's Wood Carving & Naht collection is an example of this technique: mother-of-pearl inlaid into an ebony ground.