(GIST OF YOJANA) Sankheda Nu Lakh Kam: Lacquered turned wood furniture of Sankheda

[August-2020]

Sankheda, a small town in the eastern region of Gujarat derives its name from ‘sangheda’, the word for a lathe in the Gujarati language.
The town has about 80-100 families belonging to the ‘Kharadi-Suthar community identified with the occupation of wood turning.
Lacquered, turned wood furniture with hand-painted motifs and traditional method of ornamentation, popularly known as Sankheda furniture, is thought to have been produced in the town from about 1855.
The traditional craft process of making Sankheda furniture involves shaping and painting the members while the craftsman is turning the lathe. He wields the brush with great mastery to map the patterns freehand, achieving symmetric and even contours without using any measuring device or markings.
As most of the craftsmen in Sankheda town are involved in this craft it gives them a strong sense of community identity and continuity. The ornate nature of the product lends itself to becoming a visible symbol of expression that has been identified as Gujarati within its local precinct and elsewhere. There is a wide range of furniture items produced including child’s cradles, child’s walkers to chairs, tables, and large swings.