Oriental GEMS
Wood Carvings
The wood carvings in our product range come from the indigenous people of the Nong Bueng commune that lies in the
south eastern corner of the Lao P.D.R. Records show this commune, named after a nearby lake, was founded around
1890 originally by three farming families. The community has grown meanwhile to close on a hundred families most of
whom are involved in one way or another in producing the style of carvings shown at Oriental Gems.
The style of these carvings follows designs that families living in this commune made for their deceased members that
were either in the form of statues placed at the burial sites in the forest or in the case of the less wealthy indigenous
people as masks or related items that were hung in the trees over the burial sites of their members.
In more recent times, after visitors and tourists came across the interesting burial carvings in the forest, the community
realized the potential of developing their traditional burial related carvings into a home industry in order to address the
requests from many outsiders for their fascinating tradition. Over time, almost all of the indigenous families of Nong
Bueng are involved, even if only as a second occupation by some of their family members, in developing their own styles
and have more recently adopted up-to-date objects and pictures in their carvings repertoire.
Do not be concerned regarding the type of wood used because this carving style is based on the use of soft woods that
are not amongst the protected species so there is no conflict of interest between the villager’s home industry and the
protection of our natural environment.
Woven Fabrics from Ratanakiri Province
The fabrics shown at Oriental Gems are made by indigenous Jarai and Kreng as well as some by the Tumpun people. In
keeping with our policy of supporting their use of natural materials we focus our selection on weavers that use dyes
from bamboo, tree bark as well from roots and plants.
Designs are generally chosen by family elders who select styles that are related to their local environment or to their
particular family’s traditions. In fact, no two families weave the cloth in exactly the same way as another while typically,
all members of the weaver’s families help when they have free time with gathering ingredients and preparation for the
dying and weaving process even though for many, it is no longer their main occupation.
Rattanakiri Pepper - Another Cambodian Gem
Since before Cambodia became an independent country in its own right up to 60% of Rattanakiri Province had been
covered with rubber plantations. However, in more recent times, as Rattanakiri was opening up after the departure of
the Vietnamese occupiers, its rich volcanic soil encouraged forward thinking agriculturists to experiment with pepper
and other produce.
The spread of pepper plantations has meanwhile grown steadily over the past 15 years replacing areas that were
previously covered with rubber trees. The taste and quality of pepper grown in Rattanakiri Province is excellent and
differs slightly from that of Cambodia’s world renowned and better known pepper plantations that lie by the sea.
We invite you to use it and give yourself the opportunity of experiencing one of Rattanakiri’s most successful new
agricultural endeavours.
Wood Carvings
The wood carvings in our product range come from the indigenous people of the Nong Bueng commune that lies in the
south eastern corner of the Lao P.D.R. Records show this commune, named after a nearby lake, was founded around
1890 originally by three farming families. The community has grown meanwhile to close on a hundred families most of
whom are involved in one way or another in producing the style of carvings shown at Oriental Gems.
The style of these carvings follows designs that families living in this commune made for their deceased members that
were either in the form of statues placed at the burial sites in the forest or in the case of the less wealthy indigenous
people as masks or related items that were hung in the trees over the burial sites of their members.
In more recent times, after visitors and tourists came across the interesting burial carvings in the forest, the community
realized the potential of developing their traditional burial related carvings into a home industry in order to address the
requests from many outsiders for their fascinating tradition. Over time, almost all of the indigenous families of Nong
Bueng are involved, even if only as a second occupation by some of their family members, in developing their own styles
and have more recently adopted up-to-date objects and pictures in their carvings repertoire.
Do not be concerned regarding the type of wood used because this carving style is based on the use of soft woods that
are not amongst the protected species so there is no conflict of interest between the villager’s home industry and the
protection of our natural environment.
Woven Fabrics from Ratanakiri Province
The fabrics shown at Oriental Gems are made by indigenous Jarai and Kreng as well as some by the Tumpun people. In
keeping with our policy of supporting their use of natural materials we focus our selection on weavers that use dyes
from bamboo, tree bark as well from roots and plants.
Designs are generally chosen by family elders who select styles that are related to their local environment or to their
particular family’s traditions. In fact, no two families weave the cloth in exactly the same way as another while typically,
all members of the weaver’s families help when they have free time with gathering ingredients and preparation for the
dying and weaving process even though for many, it is no longer their main occupation.
Rattanakiri Pepper - Another Cambodian Gem
Since before Cambodia became an independent country in its own right up to 60% of Rattanakiri Province had been
covered with rubber plantations. However, in more recent times, as Rattanakiri was opening up after the departure of
the Vietnamese occupiers, its rich volcanic soil encouraged forward thinking agriculturists to experiment with pepper
and other produce.
The spread of pepper plantations has meanwhile grown steadily over the past 15 years replacing areas that were
previously covered with rubber trees. The taste and quality of pepper grown in Rattanakiri Province is excellent and
differs slightly from that of Cambodia’s world renowned and better known pepper plantations that lie by the sea.
We invite you to use it and give yourself the opportunity of experiencing one of Rattanakiri’s most successful new
agricultural endeavours.