Coloured lacquerware can be found in a large variety of decorative as well as utilitarian articles, including kitchen ware, motor cars, toy telephones, and other items like chairs and table lamps. A variety of soft woods like haldu, dudhi and salaiya are used.
The craftsmen of Rajasthan are involved in ornamenting wood with painting and lacquering with great skill and creativity. The wooden article is smoothened by rubbing a fine pottery powder prior the application of lac. The wooden article is then turned on the wheel and as the lac stick is pressed against it, the lac is smeared all over the article. Several layers of different coloured lac are applied in this way. This is followed by applying a marble polish with a bamboo edge and then shining it with an oil rag. The layers of lac are then scraped with a pointed chisel to highlight the required colour.
Raja Rani dolls, wooden carved owls, Radha Krishna idols are made in the most significant manner and are prepared in the six different sizes. There are few images of Ganesha, Durga, Ravana and Laxmi which give the impression of Ivory. These images are around two meters tall and are made out of Gambhira wood.
Lacquerware craft of Bihar is unique and has ritualistic connotations. Bihar produces raw and shell lac in huge quantities. Kusum is one of the varities considered excellent for making legs of beds, boxes, bangles and stools and laquer is done over these items to decorate.
Laheris is a community which makes special oval shaped containers called sindurdans. There is a tradition of gifting red colour round nose ring box having engraved symbols of fruitfulness and longevity.
Sawantwadi is famous for the craft of lacquer ware, which was introduced here around the end of the 17th century. Various schools teaching this craft were started in Sawantwadi during the 18th and the 19th centuries. Many of the artisans were moved from nearby Goa. The Sawantwadi lacquer ware is now available in a wide range of products and concentrates on traditional hand painted and lacquered furniture and light fittings.