Typology of furniture

There are many different types of furniture such as sofas, chairs, beds, etc. Within each type,
there are many styles.
Examples: Side Chair, Chaise lounge, Wing Chair, Open Arm Chair, Ottoman, Camelback Sofa,
Tuxedo Style Chair, Settle, Buffet, Highboy, Chest of Drawers, Lowboy, Armoire, Hutch,
Canopy bed, Four poster bed, Coffee table, Sofa table, Nesting tables, End table, Kneehole desk

Typology of furniture in Gujarat

1. Aasan
In Gujarat, aasan refers to a variety of forms of seating, from floor-mats to thrones. The most
basic form of aasan comprises of a range of floor coverings, such as a chattai (grass mat), a
satarangi (cotton mat) or a galicho (woollen carpet). Being seated on the floor or on carpets and
other furnishings, in a cross-legged posture, was and remains common across different social
groups throughout Gujarat and the rest of India. Many everyday activities, such as having meals
and conducting daily chores (cooking, washing, etc.), remain floor orientated in much of Gujarat.
The term aasan can, however, be ambiguous, i.e., it does not solely refer to forms of vernacular
furniture used for seating. Aasan is a Gujarati term derived from the Sanskrit aasana.1 Both
aasana (Sanskrit) and aasan (Gujarati) have the same meaning: (i) a seat, and (ii) a balanced,
steady and comfortable seating posture. In Gujarati, aasan refers to all types of seating; but aasan
is also the collective term for a number of different seated body postures. This ambiguity
continues into the specific variants of aasan. For example, Padmasan or the ‘lotus posture’ is a
common seated yogic posture achieved by resting the right foot on the left thigh, the left foot on
the right thigh and keeping the spine erect.2 Padmasan is also the term for a throne decorated
with lotus motifs; in this case, padmasan translates as ‘lotus seat’.3 Thrones were also referred to
as rajasan 4 (royal seat), or variants of this term based on the kind of ornamentation used:
sinhasan (lion seat) owing to the carvings of lion figures on the supports, padma-sinhasan for a
throne decorated with lotus motifs, gaja-sinhasan for elephant motifs, mayur-sinhasan if there are
peacocks and haya- sinhasan if there are horse motifs. 5 As mentioned, aasan, when referring to
a seat, covers a varied range of furnishings.

 Baithak (floor seat)

A floor seating arrangement comprising of mattresses paired with bolsters and cushions.
  Paatlo (Low seat)
A low seat made of wood, which is used to perform various everyday chores as well as
ceremonial practices associated with the floor level. Ladi paatlo is a low seat attributed to the
Adivasi communities of East Gujarat.
  Pitha (Low seat with back rest)
A low seat with backrest traditionally attributed to scholarly and enlightened individuals, also
commonly used by the merchant community.
  Machi (Stool)
A low stool with webbed seat and turned wood supports. This furniture has other variants such as
varmachi (groom’s stool), ghedmachi (water-pitcher stool), sangamachi (machi with backrest).

 Sangamachi (Low chair)

A sangamachi is a low chair attributed to Saurashtra region. It is a machi with ornately
decorated backrest and armrests.
 Paat (Bench)
An elevated seat to accommodate more than two people. The term paat traditionally signified a
seat of honour.

 Bankdo (Bench)
A bench with backrest is commonly referred to as a bankdo or bannk. The design, as well as
nomenclature of this furniture, is derived from the Portuguese furniture called a banco.
  Hindolo and Hichko (Swing)
Regional variants used to denote a swing with a backrest. A swing without a backrest is also
referred to as paat in most parts of the state, but as hindola-khaat or as khaat in the region of
Saurashtra.
 2. Manch
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.

 Dholio & Dholni (Charpoy)

A dholio is a charpoy with a surface of interlaced cotton tapes and heavy, turned-wood legs finished with
a coat of coloured lacquer. A dholni is a feminine variant of dholio.
  Dhorni or Khaat (Swing bed)
A unique swing bed, used by the Kathi Community of Saurashtra, is known as a dhorni or a khaat
because its design is an amalgamation of two furniture kinds - a dhorni (charpoy) and khaat (swing). Like
other charpoys, a swing bed is a turned wood and lacquered bedstead with a webbed surface and four
legs. It is suspended from the ceiling with decorative brass chains. Moreover, it is fitted with a delicate
headboard, complete with small balustrades of turned wood. The legs of a swing bed feature an elegant
lathe turned form and possess a characteristic feature, i.e. each leg culminates into a disc- shaped foot
with smooth ridges. A mattress, bedspread and a bolster are commonly laid on the dhorni as it is
primarily used as a bed and alternatively, as a swing or seat. Although it is mainly a bed, the dhorni is
often situated in the main hall of a Kathi dwelling. Here, it forms a part of the larger display of wealth
along with other furniture items like the pataara and mand
  Khatlo & Khalti (Charpoy)
A charpoy is commonly known as a khatlo in Gujarat. Its feminine variant is known as a khatli.
  Ghodiyu & Parnu (Cradle)
An infant’s cradle is known as a ghodiyu or a parnu based on its design. Infant cradles are widely
used in Gujarat.

3. Manjush
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.

 Paniyaro (Water pitcher storage)

A paniyaro (a water-pitcher storage) is a designated area to store water pots within a dwelling.

 Kothi, Kotho & Kablo (Granary)

A kothi and kothlo are made of mud, whereas a kablo is a huge bamboo basket.
  Sanjeriyu (Cabinet / Larder)
A mud cabinet used to store cooked food or personal belongings, such as clothes, is known as a
sanjeriyu.
  Majus (Cabinet / chest)
A wooden storage chest is known as a majus. Some majus are used as hope chests while others
are used to store valuables. In Gujarat, a majus has four different design variants: majus, majju,
manjush and kothla majus.
  Peti (Casket)
A casket or table cabinet is known as a peti. They are used to store valuables like money or
jewellery. A writing cabinet or a cabinet for storing documents and stationery is known as an
iskotro.
  Pataaro (Chest)
An ornamental brass-bound wooden hope chest from the region of Saurashtra.
  Dablo (Container)
A dablo is a unique, three-legged, circular, brass container attributed to the Kathi community of
Saurashtra. It is used to house a bride’s possessions.
  Mand (Shelf)
The display of utensils on an abharai (the Gujarati term for a shelf) is known as a mand. A mand
is a crucial element of furnishing among the households of Saurashtra.

4. Sapaat
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.
  Bajot (Low surface)
A low surface raised on little feet; made of wood or metal.

 Dhaliyu (Merchant's desk)

A sloping desk used for writing; commonly known as a merchants’ desk.

5. Vaastu
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.

 Sev ni paat (Noodle plank)

Sev ni paat literally translates to ‘noodle plank’. Its peculiar form might make it seem like a
chair, but it is a traditional tool for making noodles.

 Dhichaniya (Knee prop)

A dhichaniya is a dumbbell shaped object that is used as a knee prop.
  Pustak Ghodi (Book stand)
A pustak ghodi is a book stand for religious texts. A religious book is considered sacred, so in
order to avoid handling it negligently, it is housed on a pustak ghodi.
  Padghi (Offering stand)
A padghi is a decorative stand that is used to place a platter of offerings for the gods. The
purpose of a padghi, similar to that of a bajot, is to serve as a raised platform.
  Katodan (Container)
A katodan is a circular brass container fitted with a circular or conical lid. Traditionally, katodan
were used to store an array of items from food to valuables.
 Divo (Lamp holder)
Prior to the introduction of electricity, terracotta lamps with burning cotton wicks (fueled with
oil) were commonly used to light up dark spaces. These lamps were either housed at the entrance
(on either side of the door); on window sills; in wall niches; or on wooden lamp holders known
as diva.

 Ikad (Hanger)
An ikad is a hanger. Typically, an ikad comprises of a central member from the base of which
four brackets protrude, serving as the hangers.