Lacquerware of Sawantwadi, (once a princely state) is a traditional craft, and the fruits and vegetables crafted from a light wood such as pangara and hale, are completely realistic. Sawantwadi was also famous for its ganjifa playing cards, with pictures based on mythological subjects, especially the ten avataras of Vishnu.
The traditional craftsmen are known as chittorees or picture makers. The round lacquered highly pictorial ganjifa playing cards were made by the chittorees, who also painted cradles and boxes. Most of the items were painted with religious and mythological figures.
