ASSAGAO: The once-cherished wooden furniture in Goa has taken a backseat as plastic and lightweight materials dominate the market. However, a select few still appreciate the timeless allure and unparalleled quality of old wooden furniture. Behind the scenes, master craftsmen like Luisa Maria Coelho, affectionately known as ‘Anju’, have spent decades dedicated to the art of cane weaving, ensuring that this antique furniture remains looking new and attractive.
Anju, a versatile 79-year-old cane weaver, embarked on her journey in plastic cane weaving in her late twenties. Reflecting on her training, she nostalgically recounts a community class established for unmarried girls in Assagao half a century ago. Led by Fr Alvaro and teachers from the local and neighboring villages, the learning center offered courses in plastic cane weaving, embroidery, stitching, and other arts primarily catering to the elite Catholic class. These short-term courses aimed to equip young girls, who would one day run their own families, with essential practical skills.
“During that era, wooden furniture adorned the homes of numerous respectable households. However, the non-elite class possessed only one or two wooden items as most houses had cow dung floors, where people preferred sitting and sleeping. Owning extensive wooden cane furniture was considered costly and impractical, dissuading many from investing in such pieces,” says Anju, reminiscing about the annual Mapusa Milagres feast, when rare cane wooden furniture was available for sale.
Anju has spent the past five decades travelling to various villages in Goa, showcasing her weaving skills. Unfortunately, she has observed a gradual decline in interest for this traditional craft. Many of her contemporaries have either passed away or pursued alternative professions. While a handful of Anju’s students continue to carry the torch, the number of families engaged in plastic cane weaving in Assagao has dwindled from around ten to just two, signifying an alarming threat to the survival of the craft in the region.
Anju’s craftsmanship has garnered attention from non-Goans settling in Goa, who have developed an appreciation for the value of antique wooden furniture. They actively seek out skilled cane weavers, recognizing the unmatched quality of aged wood. Anju expresses deep sadness witnessing broken cane furniture being carelessly discarded instead of being repaired. “This quality of wood is just unbeatable, and we dump them in the corner. It's disheartening,” she says.
As the cost of living continues to rise, Anju's labour charges have increased. Thankfully, her work has been highly regarded throughout her career, when her initial earnings used to be Rs 5 to Rs 10 per chair. Today, the same rate has surged to a few hundred rupees per chair, especially for intricate designs and weaving. Despite the challenges posed by her advancing age, Anju’s nimble fingers continue to weave chairs with remarkable skill, leaving onlookers spellbound, and even more so with the fact that she does not need spectacles yet. “The only difference is that I do not travel much, customers now bring their cane furniture to my house, to be re-woven” she says.
In her battle to keep her craft alive, Anju worries about the scarcity of plastic cane,as there is only one dealer, Virani, in Mapusa who supplies cane. However, its availability is diminishing, and costs are rising. Anju fears that without a viable solution, the art of cane weaving may face a natural death, not just in Assagao but throughout the Bardez region.