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SHELLAC BANGLES

Shellac bangles are the most popular lacquerware that are native to Etikoppaka of Andhra Pradesh. Dazzling Shellac bangles, often studded with glass gems, spirals of base-metal wire amid a wavy striping of other colours form a major attraction to the shoppers at Hyderabad.

Smooth wooden bangles are made of light coloured Ankudu Karra. They are held on a hand or machine operated lathe and lac is applied on them in dry state while turning. However, hand-lathe is preferred for the delicate designs. The lac stick pressed against the wooden ware softens due to the heat produced from the friction and sticks to the bangles. Fine designs are then painted with a brush after the bangles are studded with the gems, beads, stones or mirrors to create catchy designs.

The grade of the glass or gems used determine the quality and price of the bangles. The Lad Bazaar on the Charminar road is the major lac bangle market at Hyderabad.