Lacquerware Work in Rajasthan - Decorated Polished Wood Items
The handicraft of lacquered brassware, the traditional designs and their decoration land a pleasing textures to the surface of the articles.
Embellished with various kinds of engraved motifs, the most common articles produced by this industry are Aftabs, hanging lamps, flower vases, table tops, plates, bangles and bracelets, fruit dishes, ash trays and so on
The lacquered art of rajasthan having its origin in the 18 century was patronized by Maharaja Ram singh of Jaipur. Though lacquer work is closely allied to the famous enameling work of Rajasthan, it maintains its uniqueness in several forms.
Lacquered wood work of Jodhpur, Sawai Madhopur and Udaipur are famous for brilliant finish of charming colors. The other centers of Lacquer wares are Indargarh Marwar, Bundi, Kota, Tonk and alwar.
Process of Lacquered work
Lacquer, a type of varnish made from the sap of the Asian lac tree, possesses two notable characteristics: it creates a surface impervious to high temperatures and moisture, it readily blends with pigments or other embellishments, and is resistant to termites and other wood-boring pests. Lacquer Work, the process of applying a varnish to the surface of a material, most commonly wood, as both a decorative and protective finish.
Wooden Boxes Polished using Lacquer Work
There is also painstaking technique in which the lacquer is applied in thin coats, sometimes as many as 100. Each coat is dried and polished before the next is applied.
Pigment may be mixed with the lacquer to create a colored surface or designs may be painted and gilded on to the clear or opaque surface, then lacquered again. Other methods of decoration included carving the surface with a knife or encrusting it with a shell, mother-of-pearl, coral or metal.
Rajasthani lacquered work artists have many designs in their pieces. Plain decoration in this art is done in the lacquered works at all the centers of Rajasthan The works with etched nakshi or pattern work are produced in Jaipur.