Sankheda furniture is the lacquered wooden furniture of Sankheda, a town in eastern Gujarat, where craftspeople have long turned, shaped and decorated pieces such as chairs, swings and tables in bright, glossy colours. The work combines lathe-turned wooden forms with layers of coloured lacquer and hand-painted floral designs, producing furniture that is both sturdy and decorative. Like the vividly coloured toys described in the guide to Channapatna toys, Sankheda objects show how lathe work and lacquer can transform simple wood into a distinctive regional craft. This guide explores the town, its materials, its techniques, its signature forms and its present-day place in Indian handicrafts.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Craft | Lathe-turned and lacquered wooden furniture |
| Region | Sankheda, Gujarat |
| Signature items | Swings, chairs, tables, cots and stools |
| Key techniques | Wood turning, lacquering and floral painting |
| Style | Bright colours with ornamental patterns |
| Recognition | Associated with Geographical Indication protection |
What Is Sankheda Furniture
Sankheda furniture is a traditional category of wooden furniture associated with the town of Sankheda in Gujarat, famed for its turned legs, rounded forms and brightly lacquered surfaces. Pieces include chairs, tables, stools, cots and especially the traditional swing, all made from local woods and finished in rich colours with painted ornament. What distinguishes the craft is the way that function and decoration are joined, since the same hand skills that create the structure also produce the shining surface. Sankheda furniture is intended for use, and it has long served households that want durable, attractive pieces with a distinctive regional character. As a result, the craft occupies a valued place among the handicrafts of Gujarat, combining woodworking, colour and ornament in one tradition.
The Town and Its Setting
Sankheda is a town in the eastern part of Gujarat, in a region where forests, farming villages and trading routes shaped a rich craft landscape. Access to suitable timber and the presence of skilled woodworkers encouraged the development of a specialised furniture industry. The town became known across the region for its workshops, where generations of craftspeople produced furniture for homes, temples and markets. Local demand for sturdy household furniture and for the traditional swing helped sustain the trade. Understanding the setting of Sankheda helps explain how the craft took root, because it grew from the availability of materials, the presence of inherited skill and a steady market among families in Gujarat and neighbouring areas.
Historical Background
The precise early history of Sankheda furniture is not easily fixed, but the craft is understood as the product of long-standing woodworking and lacquer traditions in western India. Lacquer decoration on wood has a long record in the subcontinent, used on toys, boxes, furniture and ritual objects. Over time, Sankheda became a particular centre where these techniques were applied to full-sized household furniture. Families of craftspeople refined their methods and passed them on, developing a recognisable local style. The craft’s continuity depended on apprenticeship and shared workshop practice rather than formal documentation. This history shows how Sankheda furniture grew from a wider heritage of lacquer work into a distinct regional specialisation with its own character.
Woods and Raw Materials
Sankheda furniture is made from locally suited hardwoods and softer woods chosen for their strength, workability and ability to hold a turned form. The quality of the timber is vital, since furniture must bear weight and resist everyday wear. Wood is seasoned and prepared before turning, which helps prevent warping and cracking after the piece is finished. Alongside timber, the craft uses lacquer, a resinous material coloured with pigments, as well as brushes, scrapers and other hand tools. Selecting the right materials requires experience, as different woods respond differently to the lathe and to lacquer. Good material therefore forms the foundation of every Sankheda piece, influencing both the durability of the furniture and the quality of its bright, smooth finish.
Lathe Turning
Turning on the lathe is the defining woodworking technique of Sankheda furniture. A piece of wood is mounted on the lathe and rotated, while the craftsman shapes it with chisels and cutting tools to produce rounded legs, posts, spindles and decorative profiles. The work calls for steady hands and a confident eye, since the shape is formed in motion and mistakes are hard to correct. Turned elements give Sankheda furniture its characteristic bulbous, ringed and tapering forms. Traditional lathes in these workshops are often simple, yet in skilled hands they produce precise and elegant results. Turning therefore supplies both the structural components and the visual signature of the furniture, linking the craft to a broader tradition of Indian turned woodwork.
The Lacquering Process
Lacquering transforms plain turned wood into a glossy, colourful surface. In the traditional method, sticks of coloured lac are pressed against the wood as it turns on the lathe, and the friction generates heat that melts the lac and spreads it as a smooth, even coating. Successive colours can be applied to create bands, rings and patterns of contrast. After application, the surface is polished, bringing out its sheen and depth. The lacquer also serves a protective function, sealing the wood against moisture and wear. This lathe-based lacquering is one of the most recognisable aspects of Sankheda work, because it combines the shaping and decorating stages into a continuous, hands-on process of remarkable skill.
Painted Ornament and Floral Motifs
Once the base lacquer is complete, many Sankheda pieces receive painted decoration, typically in the form of floral designs, leaves, vines and geometric borders. The painting is done by hand with fine brushes, often directly on the lacquered surface, and the colours are chosen to stand out against the background tones. Floral patterns are especially characteristic, giving the furniture a lively, welcoming appearance suited to family homes. The motifs are generally drawn from regional decorative traditions and reflect a love of colour and pattern found across Gujarat’s crafts. Painted ornament adds a layer of individuality to each piece, since no two hand-painted designs are exactly alike. This decoration completes the transformation of simple wood into a vivid and expressive object.
The Colour Palette
Sankheda furniture is known for its bold, saturated colours, with reds, greens, yellows, blacks and deep blues often appearing together in contrasting bands. These colours reflect a broader aesthetic preference in western India for bright, joyful decoration, visible in textiles, painted walls and festival ornament. In lacquer work, colour is also a technical matter, because pigments must blend with the resin and respond properly to heat during application. Skilled craftspeople know how to combine colours so that they remain clear and balanced rather than muddy. The palette gives Sankheda pieces an instantly recognisable look that stands out in any setting. Colour is therefore not merely decorative but central to the identity and appeal of the craft.
The Traditional Swing
Among Sankheda’s best known products is the traditional swing, or jhula, a seat suspended on chains or ropes that is a beloved feature of many Gujarati homes. Often placed in a living room, courtyard or verandah, the swing serves as a place for family gatherings, rest and conversation. It also carries cultural associations with festivals, devotional imagery and seasonal enjoyment. Sankheda swings are admired for their turned posts, lacquered finish and ornamental detail, which turn a practical seat into a decorative centrepiece. The craftsmanship required is considerable, since the structure must be strong enough to bear weight while remaining visually elegant. The swing remains an enduring symbol of Sankheda’s furniture tradition, appreciated for both comfort and cultural meaning.
Chairs, Tables and Other Pieces
Beyond swings, Sankheda workshops make a range of furniture, including chairs, tables, cots, stools, cabinets and decorative stands. Each category applies the same combination of turned elements, lacquered surfaces and painted ornament, adapted to the needs of the piece. Chairs often feature turned legs and carved or shaped backs, tables may have decorated tops and legs, and cots use turned posts with woven or wooden bases. The consistency of style gives sets of furniture a unified look when used together. Such versatility allows the craft to serve varied household requirements, from everyday seating to special occasion furnishings. This range shows that Sankheda furniture is not a single product but a flexible tradition adaptable to many forms of domestic use.
The Artisan Community
Sankheda furniture is produced by families and workshops in which skills pass from one generation to the next. Younger members begin by assisting with simple tasks and gradually learn turning, lacquering and painting through long practice. Workshops often specialise in different stages, so that carpenters, turners and painters collaborate to complete a piece. The knowledge held by these artisans is largely practical and learned through experience rather than books. It includes understanding how timber behaves, how to control the heat of lacquer application and how to compose balanced decoration. Because so much depends on experience, the continued presence of skilled artisans is essential to the craft. The community is the living archive of Sankheda’s furniture tradition, and its health determines the future of the craft.
Geographical Indication and Recognition
Sankheda furniture is among the Indian handicrafts associated with Geographical Indication recognition, a form of protection that connects a product to the place and traditional methods behind it. Recognition helps differentiate genuine products from imitations and can raise awareness among buyers, designers and cultural institutions. For artisans, it offers support in establishing the value and authenticity of their work. It also encourages the preservation of traditional techniques such as lathe lacquering. While recognition cannot by itself guarantee commercial success, it strengthens the craft’s visibility and helps secure its identity. In the case of Sankheda, it affirms that this lacquered furniture is a product of a specific community and region, deserving of care, protection and sustained appreciation.
Challenges Facing the Craft
Sankheda furniture faces challenges common to traditional crafts, including competition from factory-made furniture, changing consumer tastes and the rising cost of quality timber. Mass-produced furniture is often cheaper and available in styles that appeal to modern interiors, which can reduce demand for hand-made pieces. Concerns about timber supply and sustainability also affect the trade. Younger people may hesitate to enter a demanding craft with uncertain income. In addition, the use of synthetic finishes by some imitators can blur the distinction between genuine lacquer work and cheaper alternatives. These pressures underline the need for fair pricing, market access and public understanding of the craft’s value. Addressing them is essential if Sankheda furniture is to remain a living tradition.
Care and Maintenance
Lacquered wooden furniture lasts well when cared for sensibly. Regular dusting with a soft dry cloth keeps the surface clean, while occasional gentle wiping with a slightly damp cloth removes stubborn marks, followed by prompt drying. Harsh chemicals, abrasive scrubbing and prolonged exposure to water should be avoided, since they can dull or damage the lacquer. Placing furniture away from intense direct sunlight helps prevent fading and drying of the wood. For swings, chains and fittings should be checked periodically to ensure safety. Minor scratches may be treated according to the advice of the maker or a trained restorer. With attention, a Sankheda piece can remain bright and sturdy for decades, continuing to serve a household and to display the craft’s characteristic colour.
Buying Authentic Sankheda Pieces
Buyers seeking authentic Sankheda furniture should look for smooth turned forms, even lacquer layers, clean painting and solid joinery. Genuine hand-made pieces show subtle variations in colour and pattern, along with the warmth of real lacquer rather than a plastic-like coating. Purchasing from cooperatives, state-run emporia and reputable workshops helps ensure authenticity and fair returns to makers. Visiting Sankheda itself, where possible, offers the chance to see the work in progress and choose directly from artisans. It is useful to ask about the woods used and the finishing method. Thoughtful buying supports the craft’s continuity, rewarding genuine skill and encouraging artisans to maintain the traditional techniques that give Sankheda furniture its distinct identity.
Sankheda Furniture Today
Today, Sankheda furniture continues to be made by hand in workshops that preserve the town’s distinctive combination of turning, lacquer and painted ornament. Artisans have also begun to adapt, offering lighter pieces, smaller items and designs suited to contemporary homes while retaining traditional methods. Renewed interest in authentic, handmade and durable furnishings has brought fresh attention to the craft, supported by recognition, exhibitions and craft promotion. The enduring appeal of Sankheda lies in the joyful colour and honest workmanship of its pieces, qualities that stand out in an age of uniform mass production. As a result, Sankheda furniture endures as an important expression of Gujarat’s living craft heritage, linking regional tradition with the practical needs of modern households.
Sources & Further Reading
- Ministry of Culture, Government of India (indiaculture.gov.in).
- Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sankheda furniture?
Sankheda furniture is lathe-turned and lacquered wooden furniture from the town of Sankheda in Gujarat, known for bright colours and hand-painted floral designs. Typical items include swings, chairs, tables and cots.
How is lacquer applied to Sankheda furniture?
In the traditional method, sticks of coloured lac are pressed against the wood as it rotates on a lathe, and the resulting heat melts the lac into a smooth coating. The surface is then polished and often decorated with painted motifs.
What is the Sankheda swing?
The swing, or jhula, is a seat suspended on chains or ropes, with turned and lacquered wooden frames. It is a popular feature in Gujarati homes and one of the best known products of the craft.
How should lacquered furniture be maintained?
Dust it regularly with a soft cloth, wipe gently when needed and dry promptly. Avoid harsh chemicals, abrasive scrubbing, standing water and strong direct sunlight to protect the finish.
How can buyers recognise genuine Sankheda furniture?
Look for smooth turned shapes, even lacquer, careful hand painting and sturdy joinery. Buying from cooperatives, emporia or reputable workshops improves the chance of authenticity.
