Sankheda Furniture: Gujarat’s Lacquered Teak and the Craft of Wood Turning

Colour, gloss and turned wood

Sankheda furniture is instantly recognisable: chairs, tables, swings and cradles in glowing lacquered teak, traditionally maroon and gold, with fine painted patterns that catch the light. It is made in and around Sankheda, a town about 45 km from Vadodara in eastern Gujarat.

A craft of woodturners

The craft is associated with Gujarat's kharadi, the woodturners, whose wider tradition of turned and lacquered furniture also includes cradles and charpoy legs documented by CEPT University's research (see vernacular furniture of Gujarat). Historical accounts trace Sankheda work back roughly two centuries, with teak traditionally brought from south Gujarat and finished pieces once traded through ports such as Surat and Khambhat.

How it is made

1. Turning. Teak parts are shaped on a lathe into legs, rails and spindles.
2. Decoration. Patterns are painted, and tin foil is laid to create metallic designs.
3. Lacquering. A transparent lacquer coat seals the decoration.
4. Polishing. Surfaces are polished to a deep gloss, traditionally with a smooth stone such as agate.
5. Assembly. Turned and lacquered parts are assembled into finished furniture.

Colours were originally made from natural materials; today a much wider range of pigments is used, so you will see black, blue, green, ivory, copper and silver alongside the classic maroon and gold.

Geographical Indication

Sankheda Furniture is registered as a Geographical Indication under India's Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. A GI recognises that a product's qualities and reputation come from its place of origin and the community that makes it.

Recognising genuine work

• Solid turned teak, not board with a printed or sticker finish.
• Hand-applied decoration with slight natural variation.
• Deep, even gloss over the pattern, not a thin coat.
• Solid construction at the joints.
• Buy from artisans, cooperatives or reputable sellers who can tell you where and by whom a piece was made.

Using Sankheda in a contemporary home

• One or two pieces, not a full set: a pair of chairs, a swing, a side table.
• A calm backdrop: limewash walls, natural stone, plain linen. See traditional Gujarati materials in modern homes.
• On a veranda or in a reading corner, where a swing or low chair feels natural.
• Out of strong direct sun, which fades lacquer over time.

Care

Dust with a soft dry cloth, wipe spills quickly, avoid solvents and abrasive cleaners, and keep pieces away from damp walls. See caring for wood furniture in humid months.

About us

Savistar's founders trained at CEPT University, Ahmedabad, and design interiors and bespoke furniture from Gandhinagar. We enjoy bringing Gujarat's crafts into contemporary interiors alongside SAAG furniture. See our furniture portfolio, or talk to us about your space.