The chairs of olden times had seats and backs woven of cords of cane that made them look exquisite. Sadly the use of such chairs is declining and so is the number of weavers
Most homes of the days of yore had chairswhose frames were made of wood and the seats and backs were a hand-wovenlattice of cane. But such chairs are becoming a rarity as they are now being replacedwith upholstered chairs and sofas.
Chair weaving is known as strand or lace caning.In Goa, the craft is called rotação.Rotação involves creating a hand-woven lattice with cords of cane/plastic,through holes drilled in the perimeter of the seat, creating a pattern. Thereare two common patterns – one which has octagonal spaces in the lattice and isusually used for the back and the other, a tightly woven diagonal pattern whichis used for the seat.
Peda-Benaulim is the village where traditionalchair weavers are found. After hearing several weavers’ accounts, a trend wasobvious: the man of the house would make the frames of the chairs and sofasfrom wood and the woman wove the seats and backs. The completed chairs werethen taken to the fairs and sold. There were also weavers who did not go to thefair but were called to people’s homes to weave or repair chairs.
Succorina Ferrão who has been weaving for 49years says, “In the past, we wove new seats and backs. Now, we get businessonly for repair work. We used to walk from Majorda to Utorda to Cansaulim for work.”
“I began weaving when I was 12. Back then, wecharged Rs 1.50 to weave one small chair. Now the cost has risen to Rs.200-300,” says Rosada Rebello e Fernandes. “During the Portuguese time, we usedcord made of cane. Now we use plastic cord,” she adds. While a kilo of plasticcord costs Rs 300, a kilo of cane cord costs Rs 1500.
“My children are busy with school and theyneither have the time nor the patience to learn rotação. Also, migrants have learnt the craft. They use their owncane cord and charge lower rates ” says Cleta Fernandes who has been weavingfor 35 years.
Rotação makers seem to befollowing their craft to obscurity and unless its value is recognised, there is no saving it.
