Sankheda Furniture — Teak, Lac and an Agate-Stone Shine

The story

On the banks of the Orsang river in Gujarat's Vadodara district sits Sankheda, a town whose very name is linked to sanghedu, the Gujarati word for lathe. Here the Kharadi Suthar community of hereditary wood-turners makes furniture unlike anything else in India: teak turned to smooth roundness, painted in glinting patterns, sealed in deep maroon lac and burnished to a mirror shine with a stone of agate. The palette — maroon, gold, flashes of green — is instantly recognisable across Gujarat. Sankheda furniture is, above all, auspicious furniture. Swings, cradles, chairs and low stools from Sankheda are woven into Gujarati weddings and festivals; a lacquered jhula on the verandah or a Sankheda cradle for a newborn carries generations of association with celebration and good fortune. The craft has been practised for generations in family workshops where turning, painting and lacquering skills pass from parent to child. What sets it apart technically is that the mirror finish is achieved entirely without chemical varnish — only lac, heat, friction and the agate stone. The result is furniture that is ornamental and genuinely usable, and which has earned its own Geographical Indication as Sankheda Furniture.

How it is made

Seasoned teak is cut into components and mounted on a lathe, where the turner shapes legs, spindles and frames to smooth, rounded profiles. The turned piece is then painted with a metallic, tin-based paint in floral and geometric motifs that read silvery when applied. Next comes the lac: a stick of coloured lac is pressed against the spinning wood, melting with friction heat and fusing into an even, translucent coat. Under that maroon lac layer, the silvery painted patterns transform, glowing through as gold. The surface is then burnished with an agate stone — the akik — until it takes on a hard mirror gloss, with no chemical varnish at any stage. Finally the turned parts are assembled into swings, cradles, chairs and tables.

Buying guide

The gold pattern should glow from beneath the lac surface, not sit on top of it — run a finger across and you should feel unbroken gloss. Look for even lacquer with no drips or dull patches, tight joints, and the weight of solid teak. Small decor pieces and stools typically start around ₹2,000, while full swings, cradles and furniture sets run up to ₹80,000. Slight variation in hand-painted motifs across matching pieces is normal and correct.

Care

Dust with a dry or barely damp soft cloth and buff dry immediately — standing water dulls lac. Keep pieces out of prolonged direct sunlight, which can fade the maroon over the years, and away from heaters. Never use solvent cleaners or spray polish. Lift furniture rather than dragging it, and check swing chains and hooks periodically.

Frequently asked questions