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Handicrafts · West Bengal

Purulia Lac

GI Registered West Bengal Handicrafts
GI numberGI Registered · 2026
Verified cooperativesProducer association pending — see the official GI Journal for authorised users
StateWest Bengal

About Purulia Lac

Purulia Lac, or Lac Art, is the craft of making decorative and useful objects from lac, a natural resin, in Purulia district in the west of West Bengal. Typical items include bangles, toys, boxes and ornamental pieces in bright colours. Lac is secreted by tiny insects that live on certain trees, and Purulia's forests and villages have long supported both lac collection and lac craft.

Heritage and place

Purulia is one of Bengal's driest and most forested districts, home to tribal and folk traditions such as Chhau dance and mask making. Lac work fits into that rural craft economy and supplements farm incomes. The craft was reported as registered for a GI in 2026, which could help artisans compete against plastic and synthetic toys and bangles that borrow the look.

How it is made

Raw lac is collected, cleaned and melted, then mixed with pigments and fillers. While it is soft, it is shaped by hand, wound around a core such as a bangle base, or pressed into moulds, and decorated with patterns or set with small stones and mirror pieces. It hardens as it cools and can be polished to a shine. Careful control of heat keeps the colours bright.

Registry record

Purulia Lac is a Geographical Indication tagged product of West Bengal in the handicrafts category, reported as newly registered in 2026; a confirmed registration number is not yet listed here. The name is legally protected: only producers within the notified region may sell under it. Confirm the entry in the official GI Journal before relying on it commercially.

◈ How to spot a fake Purulia Lac

What to check

Real lac has a faint resinous smell when warmed and a smooth, slightly waxy finish, while plastic imitations feel harder and glossier and look perfectly uniform. Pieces should be well finished, with no rough or sticky patches. Keep lac items away from heat and direct sun, which soften and fade them. Buy from Purulia artisans or emporia, and confirm authorised makers in the GI Journal, since the registration is new.

  • General guidance, not the registered specification: real lac has a smooth, slightly waxy finish and a faint resinous smell when warmed; plastic imitations look perfectly uniform. The registration was reported in 2026, so confirm authorised sellers in the GI Journal.

Where to buy

Authorised producers for this recent registration are not yet listed in our dataset. Check the GI Journal entry for authorised users, and prefer government emporia and cooperatives in West Bengal.

Catalogue record

Catalogue record: GI Registered · 2026 · West Bengal · reviewed

Frequently asked questions

What is the GI registration number of Purulia Lac?

Purulia Lac was reported as newly registered in 2026. This catalogue does not yet list a confirmed registration number, so check the official GI Journal for the entry.

Where is Purulia Lac made?

Purulia Lac is produced in West Bengal, in the handicrafts category of this catalogue.

Can Purulia Lac legally be made outside West Bengal?

No. GI protection means only producers within the notified region of West Bengal may legally sell goods under the name “Purulia Lac”.

How can I spot a fake Purulia Lac?

General guidance, not the registered specification: real lac has a smooth, slightly waxy finish and a faint resinous smell when warmed; plastic imitations look perfectly uniform. The registration was reported in 2026, so confirm authorised sellers in the GI Journal.