Zishta Reha Lacquer Wood Crafts - Kitchen Accessories

Reha Lacquer Wood Crafts

Congrats on your journey to bring traditional wisdom to your home. Zishta is glad to be a part of this journey and support you with authentic traditional knowledge gathered through our journeys, discussions with artisans, local communities and scientific information.

Zishta in collaboration with artisans of Nirona, Gujarat, bring to you most authentic and traditional lac turned wood Belan, butter-milk churner, knives that are handmade and natural. These are made using the most traditional technique honed over centuries by our artisans.

History of Lac wood craft

• Lac has been used in Indian craft for centuries. Coloured lacquer is applied to wood in layers and chiselled to create designs and effects.
• The name Wadha means “one who works with wood”. The Vadhas traditionally moved and worked, where needed, throughout villages bordering Kachchh’s Great Rann.
• Traditionally a nomadic community, they are now settled in villages of Kutch for the last few generations.
• A handful of families from Kutch’s use the technical and artistic skills of their forefathers to sustain the lac turned wood craft tradition.
• The community is known for making kitchen accessories made of locally available babul or neem wood.
• The community is socio-economically poor and NGOs around the area have been helping them for the last few years.
• There are only a few traditional lacquer artisan families continuing the craft in Kutch.

High quality steel

• SS202 Cutlery Grade Stainless steel with matt finish. This high quality steel possess good corrosion resistance, toughness, high harness, and strength.
• It has been traditionally hand forged at 900 C – 1150 C

Process of making

• The wood used in making the kitchen accessory is from local babul or neem tree which is chiselled in their simple self-made lathe made of wood and a string operated by hand, to get the desired shape.
• The lathe is turned with lac to get the desired base colour.
• On top of this the artisan adds layers of colours to get various designs.
• Lac is obtained from sap of Rhus tree, heated and mixed with groundnut oil and colour to form a thick, opaque paste.
• Colours are obtained through natural ways. Some examples are: brown is from the natural lac colour, black by burning thor-ka-ped, lemon yellow from haldi, blue from neem leaf & castor oil, maroon from natural stone found in the forest etc. 
• SS202 Cutlery Grade Stainless steel is used for the knives. This high quality steel possess good corrosion resistance, toughness, high harness, and strength.

Usage Instructions:

• Gently wash with mild detergents and keep it dry
• Avoid soaking in water for long duration
• Do not use steel scrubber

Some frequently asked questions:

Will the colour get stuck to the food?

No. They will not. The colours are obtained through natural ways from haldi, neem leaf, castor oil, lac etc.

How long will the colours last?

The colours will last for years. If the shine of the colours dim over a period of time, apply castor oil and polish with a cotton cloth.

For more details visit:

 Bodha Blog       

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