Question 1

What is naqshi?

Accepted Answer

Naqshi is a hand-scratched lacquer craft. Rosewood is turned on a lathe, layered in coloured lac (red, then yellow, then green), and the design is scratched back by hand so the underlying colours show as rainbow lines. It is roughly a three-hundred-year-old tradition.

Question 2

Where is it made?

Accepted Answer

Every piece is made in Sillanwali, a town in the Sargodha district of Punjab, Pakistan. The craft was brought here at Partition in 1947 and Sillanwali is now the centre of Pakistani lacquer woodcraft.

Question 3

How does personalization work?

Accepted Answer

On any personalizable piece, enter the name, date, ayat, or text you want engraved and see it previewed on the plate. After you order, we confirm the exact spelling with you on WhatsApp before any tool touches the wood. We engrave English, Urdu, and Arabic script.

Question 4

Will you confirm the spelling before making it?

Accepted Answer

Yes, always. Personalized pieces are made to order, so we send you the exact spelling and layout to approve first. Nothing is engraved until you confirm.

Question 5

How long does delivery take?

Accepted Answer

Within Pakistan, your order is delivered in 3 to 4 days. Every piece is made to order in Sillanwali — custom does not mean weeks of waiting; the workshop makes it and the courier reaches you nationwide within 3 to 4 days. For international orders, you choose the speed: express within a week, or standard within two weeks, with the courier cost and transit time quoted for your specific order before you pay anything.

Question 6

Do you ship internationally?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We ship worldwide from the workshop in Sillanwali, including to the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia and the Gulf. Because shipping cost and transit time depend on the destination country and the size of the piece, both are quoted for your specific order on WhatsApp before crafting begins, so you know the full amount before paying anything. Prices are quoted in Pakistani rupees and payment is made in advance by bank transfer. Any customs duty or import tax charged by your own country is payable by you on arrival.

Question 7

Why is nothing in stock?

Accepted Answer

We are a workshop, not a warehouse. Each piece is turned, carved and finished for your order, which is why the wait is a few days and why we can offer sizes and finishes as options rather than only what happens to be on a shelf. It also means we are never selling you a photo of something we do not have.

Question 8

Will my piece look exactly like the photo?

Accepted Answer

It will be the same piece, but not a pixel-perfect match. The wood grain, the depth of the carving and the exact tone of the polish vary between pieces because each one is worked by hand. That variation is normal and is noted on every product page. If a piece arrives damaged or is clearly not what you ordered, that is covered — see the damage question below.

Question 9

Why are there no prices on the website?

Accepted Answer

Because the cost of raw sheesham, brass work and lac fluctuates with inflation, and we would rather give you today's actual price than show a number that may be weeks out of date. Every piece is custom made to your order — message us on WhatsApp and we will send the current price immediately. We do not believe in hiding prices: we simply want you to have the right one.

Question 10

How does payment work?

Accepted Answer

Because every piece is custom and made to order, payment is made in advance, before crafting begins. After you place an order we confirm the details by WhatsApp within 24 hours, then begin crafting once payment is received.

Question 11

What if my piece arrives damaged?

Accepted Answer

Record a clear unboxing video when your parcel arrives. If the piece is damaged or defective, contact us within 7 days with the video and photos and we will repair, replace, or refund it. The unboxing video is required to process a damage claim.

Question 12

Are personalized items returnable?

Accepted Answer

Personalized pieces cannot be returned for change of mind, because they are engraved specifically for you — this is standard for made-to-order goods. They are always covered if they arrive damaged or defective, with an unboxing video.

Question 13

Do you take corporate or bulk orders?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Watch boxes, jewellery boxes, dry fruit boxes and serving trays are the usual choices for corporate Eid gifting, and we can engrave a logo. Message us on WhatsApp with your quantity and the date you need them and we'll confirm a price and a timeline — a large run needs more notice than a single piece.

Question 14

How do I care for lac-finished wood?

Accepted Answer

Keep the piece out of direct sunlight and away from water and heat. Dust it with a soft, dry cloth. Do not use polish, chemical cleaners, or a damp cloth on the lac surface. Treated this way, a naqshi piece lasts for generations.

Question 15

Is each piece unique?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every piece is turned, lacquered, and scratched by hand, so no two are identical. Small variations in the lac lines and tone are the mark of the craft, not a flaw.

Question 16

How do I track my order?

Accepted Answer

Use the Track Order page and enter your order ID (the SW-… number from your confirmation). You can also message us on WhatsApp with your order ID for live crafting and courier updates.