ShodhKosh 05
ShodhKosh 05
1 Handicrafts and Product Designer, 7, Hollywood Gardens, Hayes, London, (UK) Ub4 0dx
ABSTRACT
The world of arts and handicrafts represents a great saga of culture, traditions and
historical legacy associated with each particular region. India, in general and Madhya
Pradesh, in particular are known for the impressive range of hand-made artifacts that
enthrall onlookers, buyers and collectors of art.
The innate are honored with the characteristic specialty of cutting and make extremely
appealing things. There are wooden chowkies made for estimating grains. Wedding
mainstays of Bharia and wooden entryways of Gonds and Korku’s are extremely
appealing and unordinary. Machines turned and lacquered toys in splendid hues and
at moderate costs are famous everywhere throughout the state. Cut wooden toys, dolls
and elephants displaying the abilities of the craftsman are likewise made.
The Woodcrafts of Madhya Pradesh are self-viable and have contributed to maintaining
the environment healthy by using all the natural colors and polishes. Moreover, it
generates the employments to the artisans, which encourages them to design and
Received 19 May 2020 produce the products as per the market demands. And as per the demand it encourages
Accepted 15 December 2020 the social distance which is much need in present scenario.
Published 30 December 2020
Corresponding Author Keywords: Woodcraft, Lathe-Turned, Lacquered Craft, Lac, Craft, Craftsmen, Eco-
Mitali Pandey Minare, Friendly
[email protected]
DOI
10.29121/shodhkosh.v1.i2.2020.5
1. INTRODUCTION
Funding: This research received no
specific grant from any funding agency in Taking an excursion along the core of India we go over entirely saved
the public, commercial, or not-for-profit medieval urban communities, invigorating and captivating natural life havens,
sectors. and probably the holiest and most venerated traveler habitats that pull in the
Copyright: © 2020 The Author(s). This pioneer profound into its reality. Madhya Pradesh is the core of India, and
is an open access article distributed geologically involves conclusive spot in the nation's gather in territories which
under the terms of the Creative
are creating different items like handloom fabric, silk, and fleece. Woodwork
Commons Attribution License, which
permits unrestricted use, distribution, and finish product of Madhya Pradesh are likewise extremely acclaimed. Coal
and reproduction in any medium, and iron are generally significant of the minerals found in Madhya Pradesh. For
provided the original author and source the creation of concrete, limestone is required which can be found in excessive
are credited. sum in Madhya Pradesh. In a few regions of the state, Marble is likewise
accessible.
How to cite this article (APA): Minare, M. P. (2020). Lacqured Craft of Sheopur- A Sustainable Craft of Madhya Pradesh. ShodhKosh: 1
Journal of Visual and Performing Arts, 1(1), 1-13. doi: 10.29121/shodhkosh.v1.i2.2020.5
Lacqured Craft of Sheopur- A Sustainable Craft of Madhya Pradesh
Gwalior and 230 km away from Morena. The significant streams like Chambal, Seep
and Kuno are famous in the area. Jeffrey Y (1991)
For its application lac is warmed to get a semi fluid state then it is worked and
colors are added, at that point attracted to be made into sticks and afterward
covered over the wooden articles. It is a reasonable or shaded covering that dries by
dissolvable dissipation and frequently a restoring cycle too that creates a hard,
tough completion in any sheen level from super matte to shiny and that can be
additionally cleaned as required. Madhya Pradesh (2020)
The specialty delivers a huge assortment of improving just as utility things
including little models of kitchenware, toys, seats, table lights, etc. Mathematical and
botanical examples are usually utilized in the plans. These plans are painted in a few
blends as indicated by the craftsman extravagant. Among the most well known
veneer product are the lac bangles. Heretofore studded with gold and valuable
stones, today they are likewise accessible with dots, glass, stones, mirrors and that's
just the beginning.
Colored lacquer ware is made in Sheopur, Rewa Budhi, Bhopal, Gwalior, Ratlam
and Sabalgarh in Madhya Pradesh. Etikoppaka in Andhra Pradesh is one of the most
important centers of this craft. The lacquerware of Savantvadi, once a princely state,
is a traditional craft. Chennapatna Venkatesh (2020) in Karnataka state holds an
honored place in the lacquer ware world.
substance which is then handled with the help of long wooden sticks. When the lac
becomes soft, it is taken on the ground and with the help of wooden sticks is
stretched and batted on the floor till it turns into a thick lac stick. This takes a time
span of 15-20 minutes.
The hand lathe arrangement is very precisely calculated and then developed,
the distance of the stone holding the object is manually adjusted according to the
size of the foot from one of the corners of the supporting wood. The angles are kept
such that the object does not fly off while the rotation process, this analysis helps
them work more efficiently and creatively.
The creation time impressively lessens on the power lathe machine, as both the
hands are allowed to work turning devices. Force machines are for the most part
situated in little processing plant settings, where there is no or less issue of power.
Also, the modern lathe machine helps the young craftsmen of the community to
mass produce the products at a much faster speed. The craftsmen in Sheopur had
been trained by a professional craftsman in Bangalore about the proper use of the
machines. The young members of the community use the lathe machines to produce
more commercially viable and intricate designs which helps them take their craft
one step further from the traditional designs and techniques. Jeffrey Y (1991)
4. WORKING PROCESS
4.1. WORKING STYLE
The work is carried out in a workshop and in places where the artisans have
turned one part of their house into a workshop. Their workshops are so small that
it can only adjust at the most 2-3 people inside apart from the person working on
his machine. Working space per worker is 2 X 3 ft. The same condition is in the entire
workshop. The space is very less yet it has every possible thing required by them in
that area.
Every worker has his own set of tools which is spread on the ground at an arms
distance. The lighting condition is bad as they have only one source of light that is
placed wrongly in many cases. So, when the natural light is not strong it become
darker and hence difficult to work with perfection. This happens mostly between
evening hours.
Those workshops which are situated in the market get affected by the other
activities in the surrounding. The work also gets hampered in the works hops which
have a retail counter in front of the workshop. This is due to the fact that craftsmen
would be required to attend to the customers.
They do not have any recreational or entertaining activities taking place around
them as the only source of entertainment is to keep talking to the person beside you
or the women of the family who keep sitting beside and making bidis. Z. Hussain,
personal communication, December 16, 2020)
1) Logs are cut into little pieces (billets) and put away in a airy spot away from
warmth and daylight for around ten days to a month, contingent on the
dampness substance of the wood.
2) The edges of the prepared billets are then etched until a chamber is framed.
Presently the wood is fit to be turned on a machine.
3) Cutting instruments are utilized to the rotating wood-piece with the goal
that undesirable flimsy ceaseless chips are scratched off. Gifted specialists
can eliminate uniform and dainty layers of wood to frame it into wanted
shapes.
5) At this stage the article is fit to be lacquered. The nature of the eventual
outcome relies upon the ability with which finish is applied to the turning
wood. A lac stick of the picked shading is squeezed to the spinning wood.
The contact makes the lac dissolve and spread consistently over the region
on which it is applied.
6) Final completing is finished utilizing a screw pine leaf to help spread the lac
on the turning wood and finish the article. Polishing by kewra leaf loans a
clarity to the completed item.
7) The lacquered article is isolated with a cutting instrument and eliminated
from the machine. Now, a few articles are additionally ornamented with
paint. S. Ahmed, personal communication, December 16, 2020)
5. PRODUCTION OF LACQUER
1) The process of preparation of enamel from lac starts with warming and
mellowing.
2) Lac is adhered on to the finishes of two wooden sticks which are warmed
until the lac gets plastic and pliant.
3) The warming cycle is sometimes rehashed to look after versatility. A
particular measure of lithophane is then added to the mellowed lac and is
constantly beaten until a white colour shows up.
4) A little part of powdered colour is blended in with a little bit of water and
this is added to the warm white lac.
5) The blend is then beaten until the right shade develops. The lac at that point
starts to expect the consistency of elastic.
6) The lac is warmed and is taken out from the splinters before it sets. A long
flimsy stick of coloured lacquer of 1 cm thick and 3 cm wide is moulded and
afterward cut into 15-20 cm lengths.
7) Around Four to five sticks of one tone can be set up at an equivalent time.
These sticks have a time span of usability of just a single month before they
become hard and unsuited for lacquering.
and change but his best works out of this craft is Corner table, dolls, saras lamp, wall
plate (painting), and cannons.
The products which are now seen in the market were very different as
compared to the previous ones. Mr. Sarkar Ahmed adds to this that earlier they
made products which were widely used like toys or kitchen items or decorative
stuff. Which includes Itradaan, Kamal ka pool, shatranj, chaupad, shahnai, surme-
dani, fan, in toys- aeroplane, chidiya gadi, jhunjhuna, tricycle, bat-ball, in decoration
stuff they made- lantern, flowerpot, doll lamp, keyring, peacock. dancing dolls, bangle
stand etc. At this age also he is very proactive and attends workshops being
organized and participates in exhibitions.
7. CONCLUSION
Sheopur has a vast potential in lathe-turned wood craft. Since ages this craft is
flourishing in this area and has gradually astonished the potential buyers of
handicrafts. Craftsmen have evolved this craft from the basic household items like
chair, table, and toys for kids to the home-décor and souvenir products. On my field
work, I figured out the challenges and the strength of the craft. The kind of patience
it demands and the way it portray its uniqueness in terms of self-sustainability.
Many Govt. organizations are coming forward to promote and uplifting this craft as
it is eco-friendly and has no hazardous impact on the environment; furthermore, it
provides employment for the craftsmen and Wood-turned craft is therefore
attracting not only the Indian craft lovers but also the foreign buyers from different
countries. Moreover, in today’s context it promotes the new campaign started by the
Govt. called “VOCAL FOR LOCAL”
REFERENCES
Bhatnagar, S. (2017, January 31) Arts & Crafts Heritage of Madhya Pradesh.
https://www.outlookindia.com/traveller/mp/inspire-me/culture/arts-
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Campbell, Jeffrey Y (1991). “Lac-Turnery and the Lacquerware Industry”, Chapter 3,
Case Study 2, in “Women's Role in Dynamic Forest-Based Small Scale
Enterprises. Case Studies on Uppage and Lacquerware from India”, FAO
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Campbell, Jeffrey Y (1991). “Lac-Turnery and the Lacquerware Industry”, Chapter 3,
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District Sheopur (2020, December 5).
http://www.mponline.gov.in/Portal/Content/districts/Sheopur.html