Lacquer Tobacco Pot From Rajasthan - Ca 1920

This style of pot was used for tobacco & opium and is a real collector's piece. These pots were well cared for and in constant use. This piece dates to the beginning of the 20^th century and an intricate lacquer design has been lovingly applied by hand. 

Two-colour spotted pots like these are from the border area of Rajasthan and neighbouring Sindh. The practice of lacquering came from Sindh many Sindhi people migrated to Rajasthan and Kutch bringing tradition with them.

This piece dates to the beginning of the 20^th century and an intricate lacquer design has been lovingly applied by hand.  These pots are found in Rajasthan & Gujarat and are made from a single piece of wood. The glossy polished surface is achieved using kevda leaves (pandanns odoratissimus) dipped in oil. The top on this piece has long since been lost and has an old replacement from the mid 20^th century.

Lacquering is done by the craftsman on a hand powered lathe. The wooden pot is spun and a lac stick is pressed against the pot. As the pot spins friction softens the lac which coats the surface of the wood. Quite intricate designs can be created by the craftsman using different techniques. Our lacquer boxes come from Rajasthan, Sind ( Kutch) and Himachal Pradesh.

Dimensions:

20 x 20 x 8 (wxdxh cms)

References:

A similar example can be seen in "Folk Art & Culture of Gujarat: A Guide to the Collection of the Shreyas Folk Museum of Gujarat" by Jyotindra Jain - Figure 42.

See Museums of India 'National Handicrafts & Handlooms Museum: New Delhi' by Jyotindra Jain & Aarti Aggarwala - Page 93. 

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