Charpai Bench & Stool - Handwoven Jute, Mango Wood

A handwoven jute rope bench and a matching stool on solid mango wood frames, both seventeen inches high. The bench runs four feet - long enough for two people in an entryway or the foot of a bed - and the stool is the same seat at a single width.

Product details

• Bench: 48 inches long x 18 inches deep x 17 inches high, approx. 12,500 g (27.5 lb)
• Stool: 18 inches long x 18 inches deep x 17 inches high, approx. 6,000 g (13.2 lb)
• 17 inch seat height on both
• Solid mango wood frame, handwoven jute rope seat
• Made in India
• Legs ship detached - they screw on by hand, no tools needed
• Bench and stool sold separately - choose above
• Six weaves

What a charpai is

The charpai is the woven daybed found on every Indian verandah - a wooden frame with rope strung across it in a tight diagonal weave, no cushion and no upholstery. These are the same construction shrunk to stool and bench height, made by the same weavers.

Why this one

Undyed jute rope over a solid mango wood frame, strung by hand under tension. The bench is 12.5 kg (27.5 lb) and the stool is 6 kg (13.2 lb), and that weight is the difference between furniture and an accent piece - neither slides when you sit down. Jute reads warmer and coarser than cotton and it holds its colour without dye, which is why the natural weaves in the photographs look the same after a few years as they do new.

Which one do I need

• Benches - $260 - Jutika, Chunri and Resha. 48 in long x 18 in deep x 17 in high, approx. 12.5 kg.
• Stools - $125 - Tanvi, Rangi and Buna. 18 in long x 18 in deep x 17 in high, approx. 6 kg.

The six names are weave patterns rather than colours, and the range covers both undyed natural jute and dyed multicolour weaves. Check the photographs against the name before you order, and if you want a specific weave and cannot tell which is which, email contact@urliutsav.com and we will confirm before the piece ships.

Where it goes

The bench goes in an entryway, along a hallway wall, or at the foot of a bed, where four feet of seat and no back is the point. In a dining room it works as the bench side of a table for two. The stool goes at a vanity, beside an armchair, or wherever you need one more seat. A bench with a stool at each end reads as a set; the bench on its own reads as a hall bench.

The rest of the family

For the same seat in cotton rope and nine colourways, see the charpai rope stool. For a small table at the same height rather than a seat, the carved elephant stools have a solid wooden top.

Gifting

The stool is the giftable half - it is light enough to send on and the only setup is screwing on four legs by hand. The bench is a wedding or housewarming-sized gift rather than a casual one. Tell us at checkout if you are sending either directly and we will leave the invoice out.

Frequently asked questions

How many people fit on the bench?
Two adults comfortably at 48 inches, three at a squeeze. We do not publish a load rating, so we will not quote you a weight limit - what we can tell you is that it is a solid mango wood frame with jute strung across it under tension, built the way a full-size charpai is built.

Does it need assembly?
Only the legs, and no tools are needed. They screw into the frame by hand. The order matters, so it is worth doing this way:

Screw all four legs in loosely first, without tightening any of them. Stand the piece on a flat floor and turn each leg in or out until all four make contact and it sits steady with no rock. Then tighten each leg firmly, one at a time. A small gap where a leg meets the frame is normal - leave it as long as the piece is stable. After two or three days of use, give each leg a final turn: the joints settle under weight, and that last tighten is what holds.

Tightening one leg fully before levelling is what causes a wobble that keeps coming back. This matters more on the 48 inch bench than on the stool, because a longer frame shows an uneven leg sooner.

What is the difference between the bench and the stool?
Length only. Both are 18 inches deep and 17 inches high with the same frame and the same weave. The bench is 48 inches long and 12.5 kg; the stool is 18 inches long and 6 kg.

Jute or cotton?
Jute here - coarser, warmer in tone, undyed on the natural weaves. The cotton rope stool is the softer-handed version in nine colourways.

Will the jute stretch?
It settles in the first weeks and then holds. Jute is stiffer than cotton and gives less. It can be tightened or restrung rather than replaced.

Will mine match the photograph exactly?
Close, not identical. The rope is strung by hand, so the weave count and the placement of any colour vary slightly from piece to piece.

Can it go outdoors?
Covered areas only - a porch, a balcony, a screened patio. Jute absorbs water and will mildew if it is left wet.

How do I clean it?
Vacuum with a brush attachment. Spot-clean with a barely damp cloth and let it dry fully. Do not soak jute.

What if it arrives damaged?
Shipping is insured. Photograph the damage, email contact@urliutsav.com, and we will replace it or make it right.

Can I return it?
Yes, within 30 days in original condition and packaging. Return shipping is arranged and paid by the customer, so measure the 48 inch bench against your wall first.

Shipping and assurance

Free insured shipping across the USA and Canada. Ships from San Ramon, California, usually within one business day. The bench ships in a long fragile-marked carton with corner protection; the stool ships in a single box. The legs are packed alongside the frame in both. If it arrives damaged, send us a photo and we will resolve it - transit damage is covered.

See more of the range in our Table & Shelf Decor collection.