Pantry Shelf

Chantak is a piece of furniture placed in a pantry or kitchen for vessels to be stored or placed on it. Some consisted of only two or three tiers of open shelves, and others had a cabinet added between shelves or at the lowest tier. Prioritizing sturdy structure over fancy decoration, chantak was made by joining chunky wooden frames and thick wooden panels, fixing them with wooden pegs, and sometimes attaching metal fittings for structural reinforcement. Elaborately-carved panels were attached between the thick wooden pillars to decorate the bare space created by chantak’s unique structure. The chantak shown here has three tiers of shelves, with the width greater than the depth. The second tier is a cabinet with sliding doors, providing a storage space. Each shelf was made out of a wooden panel joined to the wooden frame with mitered joints and reinforced with large cast iron staples. The pillars and top board were assembled with mortise and tenon joints.