Vernacular Furniture
of India
Typology

Identify the types of furniture

As tools for activities of daily life, vernacular furniture can be complex and require special craft skills. They are often constructed to fulfill practical or ceremonial roles, by the people involved in the activities and for their community who follow these activities. Since utility is the most important factor for furniture to find its place in people’s lives, the project classifies the furniture by usage into five categories – Aasan (seating); Manch (sleeping); Manjush (storage); Sapaat (surface); and Vastu (objects). This section provides details of the 167 types of vernacular furniture identified during this research.

31

Furniture types
from Gujarat

54

Furniture types
from Rajasthan

43

Furniture types
from Punjab

39

Furniture types
from Haryana

aasan seating

Aasan is derived from the Sanskrit word asana. It signifies body-posture as well as a seat. The term aasan is ambiguous in nature and encompasses anything from a straw mat to a king’s throne. All types of seating furniture have been classified under this category.

5956

Furniture
documented

429

Places
visited

4169

People
met

manch sleeping

Manch, among various other implications, signifies a bed. Vernacular beds are essentially charpoys. A variety of charpoy forms and other vernacular furniture pieces, like cradles, are used for sleeping and are included in this category.

5956

Furniture
documented

429

Places
visited

4169

People
met

manjush storage

Manjush is derived from the Sanskrit term ‘manjusha’, meaning a storage space. In different parts of north-west India, manjush is also known as majus or majju, because of the change in vernacular dialect from region to region. A range of storage furniture including in-built options like wall niches and cabinets, are included in this category.

5956

Furniture
documented

429

Places
visited

4169

People
met

sapaat surface

Various surfaces are used to place objects upon, to write on or are used in ceremonial contexts. Sapaat is a term used to denote any such horizontal surface.

5956

Furniture
documented

429

Places
visited

4169

People
met

vastu objects

An object is known as Vastu, in most north-western languages. The term is not to be confused with vaastu, which signifies a house, or the land to build a house on. Everyday objects such as caskets, hooks, lamps, shrines, hand mills and so on that have been an integral component of domestic lifestyles are featured under this category.

5956

Furniture
documented

429

Places
visited

4169

People
met