P.N Horn

Honoring Tradition: From exceptional Horn Craft Combs to incredible wooden craft

From ancient times, combs made of horns were considered part of essential grooming as they were considered good for skin and scalp. The subtle naturally shaded buffalo horns were traditionally used for crafting combs by skilled artisans of Midnapore region of Bengal. With advent of plastic combs and scarcity of raw materials, demand for horn combs diminished and artisans diversified to making other items like pen stands, spoons, napkin rings, key chains etc. With gradual decline in demand and availability of raw materials, artisans shifted to other forms of productions and businesses. Wood craft was a natural progression as the skill and tools required were almost similar. P.N. Horn is one such rural enterprise, set up by an artisan entrepreneur who found opportunity in wood craft and a market for sustainable wooden products through Sasha.

Captivating Range of Timeless Décor and More

As people’s needs have evolved, P N Horn has adapted its product offerings accordingly. PN Horn is associated with Sasha since 2014. The unit provides direct employment to approximately 17 artisans, majority of who are women. Women’s dexterous skills are utilized in the delicate stages of polishing & finishing. They introduced a new range of products, from elegant kitchenware and captivating cutlery and exquisite serve ware, P N Horn’s 17 artisans craft their way into your heart with unmatched woodworking artistry to cater to both domestic and export markets. Customers are inspired by the timeless beauty of their creations. From sourcing to finished products, quality is their strength. Sasha works closely with them to ensure their quality meets not only product specifications but also environment and social criteria globally.

Empowering Artisans in a Safe Working Environment

The unit has a well equipped and adequate production area with utilities like toilets, clean drinking water, ventilation, first aid and fire safety. The group leader provides additional benefits to the artisans. The production area is sufficient for the unit that employs both handmade as well as machinery for production processes. The laborious process of slicing, cutting and turning the wooden blocks are done by machines while small tools are used for shaping, carving and polishing. An affordable in-house wood seasoning unit has been installed with Sasha’s support in the unit. The work processes are not hazardous, with the artisans using safe raw materials. Artisans wear mask and steel gloves while operating the larger machines. Acceptable standards of fire safety, fire alarm and first aid are maintained in the unit. Sasha provides regular health and safety trainings and facilitates fire safety drill. The group leader takes responsibility for maintaining health and safety measures, as well as ensuring compliance with fair trade and ethical standards for the artisans. Additionally, P N Horn provides additional benefits like exgratia, emergency loans etc. to its artisans.