Lace Handicraft in India is not a very ancient phenomenon. Some of the best examples are in cotton, silk, and in gold and silver threads. Notable among them is the Prince of Wales` lace that showcases the unique craftsmanship from Tinnevelly and Nagercoil in Chennai. A white lace called gota, and a colored variety, called pattia are specialties of Punjab. Lace work is done with thin threads and woven with thin stainless steel crochet needles of different sizes. The thread is made out of superior grade cotton.
Use of Lace
Lace work is used as a sequin with cloth to make bedspreads, pillow covers, curtains, frocks, skirts, waistcoats and dupattas. Laces are also made as telephone covers, tea coaster, mats for dressing table, wall hangings, etc. As the wave of modernization has helped this craft evolve, many other items including sarees and even toys are made out of laces. Although lace and crochet weaving machines are replacing artisans in this craft, there is a separate demand for handmade laces in all over the country and even abroad.
Places of Lace Craft in India
In Delhi there is a depot of the crafts of gold lace weaving, spangle-making and gilt embroidery. In Lucknow the major varieties of lace made from gold and silver wires are called lachka, kalabatu and lais. In lachka the warp is made of silver-gilt strips that are woven with a bark of silk. It is stamped with patterns in high relief as well as widely used for edging turbans and petticoats. In kalabatu, strips of gilded silver are twisted spirally round threads of yellow silk and thereafter woven into a tape. In lais the woof is made of wire and the warp of silk.
The artisans of Murshidabad, West Bengal are renowned for gold and silver laces embroidery. The making of gold and silver thread, gold and silver lace, gold and tin foil, and all types of tinsel ornaments is a thriving industry in Ahmedabad, Surat and Pune. In Mumbai too gold and silver threads are manufactured and used for lace craft. The richest and expensive prized border is the shikar pattern made in Pune. In south India, gold and silver laces are made largely at Dindigul, Bengaluru, Mysore, Vishakapatnam and other places.
Narsapur in Andhra Pradesh is known for crochet lace products. The areas in and around Narsapur, villages like Sitarampuram, Palakol, Venkatrayapalem, Antarvedi, Royapet, Mogaltur are known for lace Handicraft. They specialize in lace work and products like dollies, furnishings, garments and tablemats. This craft was introduced by a couple from Scotland and is carried out in Palakol areas of West Godavari District and Razole Taluk of East Godavari District. The lace work is also available in different colours like pink, green and mustard, beige and white. It is also comes in different shapes such as round, oval, oblong, square and rectangle.
