What Is Naqshi Lacquer Work? A Look Through the Fancy Lacquer Box
Naqshi is lacquer work with a pattern scratched back through layers of colour. How it's made, how to spot it, and why the Fancy Lacquer Box shows it best.
Short answer: naqshi is a form of lacquer work where coloured lac is melted onto turned wood in layers, then a pattern is cut back through those layers by hand so the colours underneath show. Sillanwali's Fancy Lacquer Box is a round lidded sheesham box covered edge to edge in dense naqshi, in teal or red, priced at PKR 3,200.
What is naqshi lacquer work?
Lacquered woodwork has a long history in Punjab, and Sillanwali in Sargodha district is known for it. "Naqsh" means a design or pattern, and naqshi work is lacquer decorated with a fine, drawn-looking pattern.
What makes naqshi different from painted decoration is that the pattern isn't added on top. It's cut into the colour. That's why the lines look crisp and why the surface has a slight depth when you look closely.
How is naqshi made?
On Sillanwali's pieces, the process works like this:
- The wood is turned on the khraad, the lathe.
- Lac is melted on while the piece spins. A stick of coloured lac is pressed against the wood, and the friction melts it into an even layer.
- More colours go on over the first, building up layers.
- The pattern is cut back by hand with the sathri, an iron tool that opens a fine furrow through the top layers so the colour beneath shows.
Every line is made by hand, which is why no two naqshi pieces are exactly the same.
What makes the Fancy Lacquer Box special?
The Fancy Lacquer Box is turned from one piece of sheesham and covered in the densest scratchwork style Sillanwali makes. Bands of pattern run around the body, and a worked medallion fills the lid.
On a plainer piece, the artisan leaves open ground between the lines. On this box there is almost none, so it shows naqshi at its most detailed. It's made in two colours:
- Teal, which pairs well with blue and green decor.
- Red, a traditional lacquer colour that warms a shelf or table.
If you've ever wondered what naqshi looks like up close, this is a good piece to start with.
How do you tell handmade naqshi from print?
Machine-printed or painted copies are common. A few signs help you tell the difference:
- Look at the lines. Hand-cut lines vary slightly in width and depth. Printed lines are flat and uniform.
- Tilt it in the light. Real naqshi has a slight relief where the pattern is cut through the colour.
- Check the edges of colour. Cut-back colour shows layers at the edge of each line, not a single flat colour.
- Compare two pieces. Handmade pieces differ slightly from each other. Printed ones match exactly.
What can you keep in it?
The box is decorative first, but a lidded box is always useful. Popular uses include:
- Jewellery or watches on a dressing table.
- Keys, coins or small odds and ends on an entrance console.
- Sweets or elaichi set out for guests, wrapped, since lacquer isn't meant for direct food contact.
- A gift box in itself, for Eid, a wedding or a new home.
For more ideas, see our handmade jewellery and watch box guide.
handmade jewellery and watch box guide
How do you care for it?
Lacquer is durable with gentle care:
- Dust with a soft, dry cloth.
- Keep it away from water, sprays and polish.
- Avoid strong, direct sunlight, which can fade colour over time.
- Keep it away from heaters and stoves.
Read more in how to care for lacquered wood.
how to care for lacquered wood
Is the Fancy Lacquer Box a good gift?
Yes. Because it's small, useful and clearly handmade, the box works for many occasions. It suits a bride's dressing table, a housewarming, Eid, or a thank-you gift for a teacher or relative. It needs no explanation: the person opening it sees the detail straight away, and the lid means it gets used long after the occasion. If you're choosing between colours, red feels traditional and festive, while teal sits easily in modern rooms. Add a short handwritten note explaining that the pattern is cut by hand, and the gift carries its story with it.
Shop the Fancy Lacquer Box
Fancy Lacquer Box: PKR 3,200, ready to ship, cash on delivery anywhere in Pakistan.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between naqshi and painted lacquer?
- In naqshi, the pattern is cut back through layers of melted lac so lower colours show. Painted work adds colour on top of the surface.
- What wood is the Fancy Lacquer Box made from?
- Sheesham, also called Indian rosewood, turned in one piece.
- What colours does it come in?
- Teal and red.
- How much does delivery cost?
- At the time of writing, the product page shows standard shipping of PKR 250 added at checkout, with cash on delivery anywhere in Pakistan.
- Can I get a custom colour or size?
- You can ask through our custom orders page.