Crafted in Channapatna, India, using traditional wood lathe techniques passed down from the 18th century, the Tipu Uma Mill celebrates fine artisanship with a contemporary flair. Designed in collaboration with London-based artist and designer Moe Redish, the piece draws inspiration from the town’s famous handcrafted toys known for their rounded forms and vibrant lacquer finishes.
Made with locally sourced Hale Maara (Ivory Wood), each Uma mill is turned on a lathe to achieve its sculptural form. A natural resin called lac is applied over a hot charcoal flame, where the heat and friction of the lathe melt it into the wood, creating a smooth, lustrous surface.
The deep green and yellow hues are naturally derived from turmeric (yellow), manjistha (red), indigo (blue) and kanchi kum kum (orange), then hand-polished with screw pine, a locally found fibrous leaf, for a glossy finish.
The mill features a ceramic crush-grind mechanism and a circular handle, allowing you to adjust the coarseness of your salt/pepper with ease. Each piece is made within Channapatna’s historic closed-loop craft ecosystem, where every stage, from wood sourcing to polishing, is handled sustainably by local artisans.
