Choose from a wide array of Lac
handicrafts that exude immense elegance and class.
Manufacturing Process for Lac Handicrafts and Jewellery
Stages of Making Lac Jewellery
This type of jewellery is normally referred to as ‘ Lac Jewellery’
but in fact it is really ‘Lac Filled Jewellery’, as lac or wax is
filled in the hollow silver foil piece to give it strength.
The stages of making of this type of jewellery are explained below.
Designs/Dies
The design of the jewellery is first drawn and given to the die maker. A solid
brass metal die is made by etching out the design on top of the die. A separate
die is made for the front and one for the reverse of the jewellery piece.
Imprinting/Stamping- Lac Jewellery
A thin piece of silver foil is placed over the metal die.
The metal die with the design on it and a silver foil on which this design is
to be transferred. The silver foil is gently hammered over the die using a rubber
headed mallet to transfer the design of the die to the silver foil and is called
imprinting. The same is done with the reverse side die. Then two pieces of imprinted
silver foil are fitted together to form a delicate hollow silver shell.
Enamelling - Lac Jewellery
The basic enamel colour is painted on the whole shell. It is then fired in
a tiny cylindered kiln for the enamel to set permanently. There are mainly 9
colours of enamel used. These are white, golden, pink, blue parrot green, red,
bottle green, turquoise, orange and black. Shades of these colours are also
made. The shell is delicate at this stage.
Lac (Wax) Filling
To protect and help in filling the silver shell with lac it is covered with
clay mud. When the clay mud dries it is placed over a hot plate/sand. The clay
gets heated and then lac (wax) in the form of needle straws are slowly inserted
into the hollow silver shell which is protected by the clay mud. Once filled
the silver shell gets strength. Though it looks delicate it is strong enough
to be used as jewellery.
Cleaning - Lac Jewellery
The protective clay mud is removed and the whole piece is washed and cleaned
using soap with a brush until the pieces gives a lustrous shine.
Gold Polishing - Lac Jewellery
Each cleaned/shining piece is then gold polished at places where the base enamel
is not there. These are usually the design outlines/borders.
Finishing - Lac Jewellery
The final finishing is done by touching up where the gold polish/enamel is distorted.
Rhinestones and Bead Application - Lac Jewellery
Rhinestones are pressed into the silver foil and set in the wax at the required
places as per the designs. The final work involves attaching beads and findings
to complete the jewellery.
It takes 9 different craftsmen to produce each piece of jewellery. Many small
pieces are joined together to get one complete earring/necklace/pendent. From
start to finish it takes up to 15 man hours to complete one piece of medium
size earrings, pendant or necklace. The final piece is absolutely ‘Unique
Fashion Jewellery’.
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