Page:The Industrial Arts of India.djvu/156

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

Presidency at Chaimapatna in Mysore, and Harpanhalli in the Bellary district Beautiful lac ornaments for women are made at Ellichpur in Berar ; and by the wandering tribes about Lalatpur in the North-Western Provinces.

The lacquered wooden and papier mdche Indian boxes and trays, now being largely imported into England, are of several distinct kinds.

The Sindh boxes are made by laying variously colored lac in succession on the boxes while turning on the lathe, and then cutting the design through the different colours [Plate 64]. Other boxes are simply etched and painted with hunting scenes, or natural or conventional flowers, and varnished [Plate 65]. Plate 66 illustrates the style of lacquering usually applied in Sindh to the legs of bedsteads char-pai

The Fanjah boxes are distinguished by the purple- colored lac used on them. They are made chiefly at Pak-Patan, and in the Deraj at. The Pan jab papier mdche articles are made at Mazaflarghar.

The Rajputana boxes have generally a drab ground, decorated with conventional, almost geometric, flower forms, of two colours, or two forms arranged in the alternate rhythmical manner which is seen throughout all Indian decoration.

The lacquered papier mdche work of Cashmere is the choicest in India, and inferior only to the very best Persian. It is chiefly used for native pen cases and boxes, which are painted all over either with the shawl [cone] pattern in many colours, a most un pleasing style of decoration for large objects, such as tables and chairs, or with the common flower forms of the Cashmere valley, the rose, narcissus, pink, and jasmine, painted in their natural forms and colours, but without light and shade.

In the North-Western Provinces Bareilly is celebrated for its black lacquered and gilt furniture, for which there is a considerable demand in Calcutta.

The lacquer work of Karnul f applied to large trays and boxes,