What is Naqshi lacquer woodcraft from Sillanwali, Pakistan?
Naqshi is a hand-painted and hand-scratched lacquer technique on turned sheesham wood. Sillanwali, in Sargodha district, is the centre of this craft in Pakistan.
Naqshi lacquer woodcraft is a traditional Pakistani technique in which coloured lac is layered onto wood turned on a lathe, then scratched by hand so the colours underneath show through. Almost every piece is made from sheesham (rosewood). The town of Sillanwali, in the Sargodha district of Punjab, is the main centre of this craft in Pakistan today.
Where the craft comes from
The tradition is usually traced to Kaithal around 1710. After Partition in 1947, craftsmen brought the work across the border and settled in Sillanwali. The town is still home to about a hundred workshops that turn, lacquer, carve, and paint wood by hand. That concentration is why buyers looking for authentic Pakistani lacquer woodcraft often search for Sillanwali specifically.
How a naqshi piece is made
- Khraad (lathe): the wood is turned into a bowl, tray, vase, box, or table leg.
- Lac layers: coloured lac is applied in layers while the piece still spins.
- Scratching (naqshi): the design is scratched back by hand so under-colours appear.
- Carving or brass work: some pieces are carved or set with brass pins instead of, or as well as, paint.
- Finish: the piece is polished. Food-contact items often use a steel insert so the wood stays dry.
Because every step is done by hand, grain, carving depth, and colour shift a little from piece to piece. That variation is normal. It is also why photos are a guide, not a pixel match.
What people buy from Sillanwali
The practical kitchen range is the most common order: wooden hot pots with steel inserts for keeping roti warm, nesting serving trays, bowl sets for dry fruit, chakla belan for rolling dough, spice boxes, and utensil racks. Home décor covers painted and carved side tables, flower vases, wall clocks, and tissue boxes. Islamic wall pieces — Allah and Muhammad roundels, Bismillah plaques, the four Quls, Asma-ul-Husna — are cut as openwork from sheesham.
Made to order, cash on delivery in Pakistan
At Sillanwali Handicrafts, pieces are made to order in our workshop in Sillanwali rather than held as finished stock. Typical make time is about one to two weeks depending on the piece, then five to seven working days in transit across Pakistan. Payment is cash on delivery. Custom engraving and bulk orders for shops and corporate gifts are available on request.
Sillanwali is a town in Sargodha district, Punjab, Pakistan, and the centre of Pakistani lacquer woodcraft since the craft arrived at Partition in 1947. The tradition traces to Kaithal around 1710.
How to care for sheesham pieces
- Wipe clean with a dry or slightly damp cloth. Do not soak or put wooden pieces in a dishwasher.
- Hot pots and mugs with steel liners: wash the insert separately; keep the wood dry.
- Keep painted and carved décor out of direct sun and standing water.
- A light food-safe oil can refresh plain serving pieces once or twice a year.
If you want a specific size, finish, or name engraved, use the custom order page. For ready designs with listed prices, start from the collections.