From Timber to Art

Wooden lacquerware refers to wooden items coated with lacquer; a type of resin derived from the sap of trees. The lacquer helps protect the wood and also adds shine to it. The Wooden Lacquerware & Toys is an ancient craft of Varanasi that involves making wooden boxes, trays, utensils and toys coated with lacquer to add beauty and durability.

The Lacquerware Toys are made using either Sal or Sheesham wood. One of the characteristic features of these toys is that they are made without any joints. Attractive and safe play things for children, these lacquerware toys are bright and colorful and have a ritual significance in the lives of the artisans. Every time a child is born, a new lathe is added to the family possessions.

The process of making these wooden toys involves first cutting pieces of wood from logs. Each piece is heated slowly to remove any moisture present in it; a time consuming but an important step. Each piece is then sanded to smoothen the surface. The wood is either hand carved or shaped using lathe. As the lathe turns, the wood remains in the same position and slowly is shaped by the operation of the lathe. Once shaped, the toy is smoothened using a file and then sent for painting. Several coats of paints are applied to the toy and the final product is then finished using a clear or colored lacquer. Kashmiri Ganj and Khojwa are the major centres of production of this craft.