


CHAPTER I . HARD MATERIALS
Lacquer Work
The kitchen's kaleidoscopic lac colours and patterns from Kutch...
THE VADHAS OF KUTCH
The Vadhas are a semi-nomadic community that moved throughout Kutch (Gujarat, India). They collected natural stones and colors from forests and created lacquer goods.
According to a Vadha artisan from Nirona, in Kutch (popular for the lac work), the name of his village came from "Niro-Vadha": Niro means "place" and Vadha means "the one who cuts wood".
These artisans are believed to be practicing Lacquer Work for seven generations now and the whole family is involved in this craft. Men do the heavy work of cutting and shaping the wood and women apply the finishing touches to them.
The descendants of Vadhas are now permanently settled in Kutch, being only a few traditional lacquer artisan families who continue the craft in the region.
As a lot of the Kutchi ethnic artisans, the Vadhas face a lot of socio-economical challenges!