Red Lacquer Pot From Uttar Pradesh - Ca 1930

This style of Indian lacquer pot is found only in Uttar Pradesh in the North of India. Simpler in design than Rajasthani lacquer pots they utilise the same red lacquer found on Chinese cabinets. These lacquer pots are fantastic collectables and this piece is almost 100 years old, dating to the early 20^th century.

Lacquer boxes are commonly used for storing jewellery or bindi (the red powder that Indian ladies apply to the forehead). The interior has been stained by the bindi it originally stored.

Lacquering is done by the craftsman on a hand-powered lathe by pressing coloured sticks of lac against the wooden pot. As the pot revolves, the heat generated softens the lac and a thin lacquer of colour was deposited on the wood.