The Gujarati town of Sankheda, located about 45 kilometres from Vadodara, is known for its lac-coated turned wood furniture made by Kharadi artisans. They use teak wood and paint in vibrant hues of maroon and gold.

The process of making Sankheda furniture involves five stages. The individual teakwood elements are made before the designs are painted in tin and a coat of lac is applied and then polished. The sections are assembled in the final part of the process to complete the piece of furniture. The tin-painted patterns on the furniture change colour once heated and lined with lac. The finished products are usually seen in the traditional colour palette of brown and orange. Many Gujarati communities consider Sankheda furniture to be auspicious, so it is a common wedding gift. The artisans also make pedestals for idols, cradles for infants, walkers for babies, and dandiyas, the sticks used in the garba dance.

This craft was certified with the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2007.

Sankheda furniture craft was first recorded in the 17th century, by a French writer, George Rocques, and a British civil servant, James Forbes. Historical records suggest that the teak wood for this furniture came from Valsad and painted with vibrant colours. From there, it was taken to Surat and Khambhat ports for export.

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