Design Resource
Wooden Toys - Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Hand Carved Toys
by
Prof. Bibhudutta Baral and Manasa K. H.
Lacquer Wear
Lacquer is glue that is directly obtained from the trees; Craftsman exports the lacquer from Bengal. Lacquer is melted using burning charcoal and loban will be dapped on the glue which helps lacquer to melt quickly. Once the lacquer is properly melt, different chemical colors are added to it, which will be used later to color the wooden toys.
Lacquering is done on a lathe. Dry lac is pressed against the woodenware to be lacquered. While the lathe keeps revolving, the heat generated by friction softens the lac, making the colour stick to the surface of the wood. Lacquerware toys are produced in this way. Thus, the craftsmen manipulate the stick where several colours are used.
