Tavolino di servizio - Legno - lavoro di laccatura

Pakistani 19th century two-tier lacquerware (laky ka kam) side table.

The table was an exhibit at the Calcutta International Exhibition of 1883-1884 (see the label). It is probably made of mango wood.

The top and the lower parts of the legs show clear signs of use, while the bottom shelf has been moved to a slightly different position. See the photos.

"Laky ka kam or lacquer work is practiced in several parts of Pakistan, notably in Sillianwali and Chiniot in the Punjab, Dera Ismail Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Kashmor in Sindh. Commonly known as jandri ka kam, or lathe work, it employs three distinct stages in making: woodturning, lacquer coating and engraving.

The piece of wood selected to turn is usually round. After finishing and buffing the outer surface with sandpaper (raigmar), lac is applied in layers with the help of lac sticks that melt and transfer colour on the turning wood. Once the first coat has been transferred, the surface of wood is levelled with a palm stick called rangatha. Each time a new coat of lac is applied, rangatha is rubbed to ensure that lac is spread evenly, fixed to the last coat of lac while brightening the surface.

The next step is to dip a cotton ball in mustard oil and rub it on the lacquered wood to add glaze and shine. After completion of this process, different designs are engraved in multicolour by scraping the lacquered surface. As one goes deeper, shades of lacquer become visible adding a rainbow effect to the product. This technique is called chatrai ka kaam. Whereas in Sillianwali, this craft is referred to as naqshi, in D I Khan and D G Khan it is still called jandri ka kaam.

Engraving on lacquered surface can take on several different styles. The common most style and/or technique is naqshi in which the artisan scratches, scrapes or engraves the surface on which lacquer of different colours has already been applied" (Aasim Akhtar)