How to Choose a Naqshi Lacquer Table Lamp for Your Home
Styles, finishes, where to place a handmade naqshi lacquer table lamp, and how to care for it, with lamps from Sillanwali Handicrafts.
A handmade lacquer lamp does two jobs. It lights a corner of the room, and even when it's switched off, it brings colour and craft to a side table or console. At Sillanwali Handicrafts our lamps are turned from wood by hand and finished in lac, many with naqshi scratchwork, the traditional craft of our area.
If you're choosing your first lacquer lamp, this guide covers the styles, where each one suits best and how to keep it looking good.
What makes a lacquer lamp different
Most lamps in shops are moulded from metal, glass or plastic. A lacquer lamp starts as a piece of wood turned on a lathe. While it spins, the craftsman presses coloured lac onto the surface, and the heat from friction melts it into a glossy coat. For naqshi work, layers of colour are built up and then patterns are scratched through by hand to show the colours underneath.
Because every piece is made this way, no two lamps are exactly alike. Small differences in pattern and shade are a sign of handwork, not a fault. You can read more about the craft in our guide, What is naqshi lacquer woodcraft?
What is naqshi lacquer woodcraft?
The styles we make
Classic naqshi pair. Our Wooden Naqshi Lacquer Table Lamps have hand-turned bodies covered in scratched naqshi lac and sit on metal bases. They come as a pair, which makes them a natural choice for both sides of a bed or sofa.
Wooden Naqshi Lacquer Table Lamps
Tall star-pattern pair. The Star Pattern Lacquer Table Lamps with Metal Stem stand taller on slim metal stems. They suit consoles, entrance tables and drawing rooms where you want a lamp that draws the eye.
Star Pattern Lacquer Table Lamps with Metal Stem
Simple amber pair. If your room already has a lot of pattern, the Simple Wooden Lacquer Table Lamps are a quieter option. They're plain amber lacquer, lightly worked, on turned feet, so the wood and gloss do the talking.
Simple Wooden Lacquer Table Lamps
Dome night light. The Dome Wooden Table Lamp is a small turned wooden dome drilled with stars. When it's lit, it throws points of light across the room. It's a good fit for a bedside, a child's room or a reading nook, and it's a popular gift.
How to pick the right one
Think about the room's colours. Bold naqshi patterns look best against plain walls and simple furniture. In a room with patterned rugs or curtains, a simpler lamp keeps things calm.
Decide on one lamp or a pair. Pairs give a balanced look on either side of a bed, sofa or doorway. A single dome lamp works well where you want a small, soft accent.
Check the height for the spot. A taller lamp suits a console or a side table next to a high-backed sofa. A shorter lamp sits better on a bedside table, where you don't want light in your eyes.
Match it with other naqshi pieces. Lamps look especially good alongside other lacquer work, such as a naqshi tissue box or one of our naqshi nesting table sets.
Caring for a lacquer lamp
Lacquer is hard-wearing, but a little care keeps the shine for years:
- Dust with a soft, dry cloth. Avoid wet cloths and harsh sprays.
- Keep the lamp out of strong, direct sunlight for long periods, which can fade colours over time.
- Don't place it where it may get splashed, such as right next to a sink.
- Switch off and let the bulb cool before cleaning near it.
For more detail, see our guide on how to care for lacquered wood.
how to care for lacquered wood
A lamp as a gift
A handmade lamp makes a thoughtful housewarming, wedding or Eid gift because it's used every day. The dome lamp is an easy choice for a smaller gift, while a pair of naqshi lamps makes a bigger statement for a new home.
Order from Sillanwali Handicrafts
All our lamps are made by hand in Pakistan. Prices are shown on each product page, and cash on delivery is available. Browse the full range in our home decor collection, or contact us for bulk or custom orders.