Lac Jewellery

Indian Jewellery encompasses much more than the combination of the popular precious metals and solitaires that we see on a daily basis. There are various other materials used to create beautiful ornaments. One of the raw materials used for making jewellery is Lac, which is also known as Lacquer. It is derived from an insect called Kerria Lacca, when it leaves a resinous substance that is piled up and then collected for the jewellery making purpose. It is high in demand due to its vibrant and colourful appearance.

This Lac collected can be carved to make various jewellery designs, exclusive jewellery boxes, accessories or other decorative items. Rajasthan, Hyderabad and Bihar are the leading producers of Lac jewellery and its derivatives. Among these states, Rajasthan produces a significant quantity, and is the prominent producer of Lac jewellery. This was originally a tribal cottage industry, but today, it is a large-scale venture that even exports this ancient craft of India.

Among the different items in Lac jewellery, bangles need a special mention. A single Lac bangle passes through the hands of at least 18 workers as it goes through the different stages of production, and finally comes out as the most auspicious and mesmerizing piece of art. These bangles have an inner core covered with a thin layer of superior quality lac. The core lac is mixed with a material like clay to give strength to these bangles. The final shape is attained by suppressing the lac length as per the form of the mould. Women at homes work with lac to create beautiful bangles and decorate them with glasses and beads. This intense work is done on high flame and is a dangerous process that can only be done by skilled craftsmen.

Other than bangles, Lac is also used to create necklaces, decorative boxes and even pens. People with an artistic eye tend to decorate their homes with products made of Lac, owing to their beauty and sustainability.

One of the perks of investing in Lac is that they will rarely break and will always remain as new as they were at the time of purchase. A light dusting with a soft cloth is enough to make them shine.