Lacquer Products- A Beautiful Memory of Your Maldives’ Holiday

Saturday 20th of June 2020

Lacquer Products- A Beautiful Memory of Your Maldives’ Holiday

After an unforgettable vacation to one of your favorite destinations, you would want to bring along something that reminds you of those memories, an object that you can use to decorate your home and also shows the culture of the holiday destination. That’s why so many tourists to the Maldives leave with a souvenir and one of the most popular souvenirs are the beautiful lacquer products.

Traditional lacquer work in Maldives involves a hand-powered lathe that rotates the wood, on which several layers of lacquer are applied in different colors and are allowed to harden. The design is incised with sharp tools, exposing the bright colors of the underlying layers. Traditionally, the craftsmen used three different pigments to color the artifacts in yellow, red, or black.

Lacquer work were used for containers, bowls, and trays used to present gifts to the sultan, but now they can be found on stylish pens, jewelry boxes as well as many other creative objects. These are great for decorating the house and also carries a tradition that started in the 17th century.

However, as years passed by, the survival of this traditional art became uncertain. There are very few people who still practices this artwork and keeps it alive. Baa Thulhaadhoo can be said to be the only island in the Maldives that practices this work. But you’ll find these stunning products in several souvenir shops and resorts in Maldives.