Lac crafts of Southern India have acquired a distinguished place among the Indian handicrafts. This beautiful craftwork symbolizes elegance and uniqueness. Since ancient times, lac crafts have been in great demand among people belonging to different cultures. Lac is basically a coloured resin which is obtained from wild trees and is accumulated by insects. Earlier, lac craft was extensively practiced by the tribal people of different regions in India. Later, the popularity of this craftwork inspired many contemporary artisans to adopt it as their main occupation. Designs of lac craftworks display different cultural influences.
Lac Crafts of Karnataka
Karnataka is well reputed for lac crafts in south India. Beautiful artefacts made or embellished with lac are very popular in this region. In Bangalore, a place called Chennapatna, situated on the Mysore highway, is the prime centre of excellent lac craftworks. Bright colourful articles of Karnataka lac crafts include kitchen wares, furniture, table wares, jewellery and many more decorative and utilitarian items. Lac jewelleries are especially famous here owing to their variety and gorgeous designs.
Lac Crafts of Andhra Pradesh
Lac crafts of Andhra Pradesh include mainly wood lacquering. Etikoppaka, situated 80 km from Vishakhapatnam, is especially famous for this. In wood lacquering, wooden crafts are beautifully quoted or highlighted with colourful lac which gives them a pleasing appearance. Magnificent and elaborate designs of various patterns and figures are made with the help of brushes. In addition to this, gemstones and gold or silver wires are also embedded on them to enhance their appeal. Lac bangles are the most popular item of this art. In olden days, these bangles were adorned with gold and precious gems and were considered as a status symbol. Nowadays, stones, mirrors and glass works are also found on the bangles that make the purchase absolutely economical yet stylish. Other popular items of lac crafts of Andhra Pradesh are containers, bottles and jars of varied shapes and sizes. Exquisite decorative articles like flower vases, wall hangings etc are also crafted by the artisans of this region.
Making of Lac Crafts
Making of lac crafts is laborious as well as require expertise in this field. For lac jewelleries, the core material used is low quality lac, often mixed with other materials like white clay which act as strengthening agent. The outer covering is then made with good quality lac. All the ingredients are initially mixed together, heated and pounded repeatedly to form dough. This dough is then shaped up according to the articles with the aid of different instruments. Polishing and designing of lac crafts is another step requiring great dexterity. Sometimes good quality lac is used for highlighting portions of artefacts with vibrant colours. Amalgamating the lac crafts with other craftworks is another way of amplifying the beauty of articles. Lac also serves as a good base for embedding gems, mirrors or stones for decorative purpose.
Lac Crafts of Southern India fascinates tourists from all over the world. This craftwork is an age old tradition and has been in demand since ancient times. Archaeological evidences have shown their existence since 1600 BC. The beauty and variety of lac crafts captivates people of varying cultures and choices. Be it traditional or contemporary in style, lac crafts exhibit mesmerizing beauty.
