Hometown of this art : Bidar, Karnataka State
Type : Metal Craft
Technique Involved : Art of inlaying gold or silver on black
metal
Bidri Items : Plates, Vases, Bowls, Ashtrays, Hugga Bases,
Jewellery, Trinket Boxes
Bidriware is the most well known of Andhra's handicrafts - a metal
craft that derives its name from 'Bidar', the hometown of this
exquisite craft. It is an art of inlaying silver on black metal and
it is believed that this ancient and eye-catching craft entered
India more than 4000 years ago from the culture-rich Persians,
Syrians and Iranians. If one were to believe the craftsmen
themselves, they say that the art originated in Iran seven centuries
ago. It was brought down by migrants.
Presently, Bidri has been aptly contemporized producing cufflinks,
name plates and more. But always retaining the old grandeur that won
the heart of many a king, warrior, scholar and commoner. There are
four main stages in the manufacture of Bidri. They are casting,
engraving, inlaying and oxidising.
Method of Bidri Making :
Behind the breathtaking beauty of Bidri lies hours of painstaking
effort by the artisan. The original technique involved the inlaying
of gold or silver on a steel or copper base. This method had its
origins in Persia. However, the metal used for the base today is an
alloy of zinc and copper because zinc gives the alloy a deep black
color. It is engraved or overlaid with silver or brass. After
casting and moulding, the surface is filed smooth till it acquires
the typical Bidri sheen. It is then temporarily blackened with
copper sulphate solution and etched into a traditional design using
a sharp iron tool.
The designs are traced by hand, by the craftsmen with the help of
chisels. Next, pure silver wire or sheet (gold in rare cases) is
hammered into the grooves of the design and the surface smoothened
with the help of a buffing machine. In the ultimate interesting
stage, the articles are heated gently and treated with a solution of
sal-ammoniac and earth taken from old fort buildings which has the
effect of making the entire surface turn jet black providing a
distinct contrast to the shining silver inlay. Typical Bidri items
include plates, bowls, vases, ashtrays, trinket boxes, huqqa bases,
jewellery etc. Glass and studded bangles of Bidri are a favourite
with women.
Main Shops for Bidri Arts are:
» Bidri Crafts, Gun foundry, Hyderabad.
» Kalanjali Arts & Crafts, Nampally, Hyderabad.
» Sheela's Indian Handicrafts Specialists, Lal Bahadur
Stadium, Hyderabad
» Mahboob Bidri Works, Masab Tank, Opposite Diamond Sweet
House Hyderabad.
» Crafts Museum Calcutta Emporium, Behind Lepakshi,
Gunfoundry, Hyderabad.
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