Fast Facts :

Craft of : Bidar, Karnataka State

Type : Metal Craft

Technique Involved : Art of inlaying silver or gold on black metal

Major Bidri items : Jewellery, Hugga Bases, Trinket Boxes, Vases, Plates, Ashtrays

The most popular a handicraft of Andhra Pradesh is the Bidriware, this metal craft is derived its name from Bidar, from which it is originated. This is an art that interlays silver or gold on black metal; this is an eye-catching craft, entered India for more than 4000 years ago from the rich culture of Syrians, Persians and Iranians.

Bidri craftsmen were patronized in the Mughlai courts and settled down to practice their craft in the fortress town of Bidar in Karnataka, giving the craft its name. It originated with the ornamentation of royal swords and other weapons, and was later applied to domestic use in items like cigars and cigarette boxes.

Typical Bidri items include plates, bowls, vases, ashtrays, trinket boxes, huqqa bases, jewellery etc. Glass and studded bangles of Bidri are a favorite with women.

Stages in Bidri Making :

Behind the breathtaking beauty of Bidri, lies hours of meticulous effort by the artisans. 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. The black colour is the result of the heating the zinc and copper surface gently and applying sal ammoniac with old fort earth. It is engraved or overlaid with silver or brass.

There are 4 major phases in the production of Bidri. They are casting, engraving, inlaying and oxidizing.

Casting :

The craftsmen shed their individual pieces, constructing forming clay through sand, oil and resin in ratio (20:2:1) and put in borax to the surface of clay to thwart sticking of metal. Vases, jugs and Flasks are generally shed in 2 divisions separated beside the perpendicular axes.

The facade of the coarse cast of object is smoothened and filed by means of sand paper & after that chafed with copper sulphate solution to pass on a dark facade to endow with an appropriate bottom for the following stage of deciphering the blueprint and impression.

Engraving :

To incise the drawing, wax as of honeycomb & Raal an adhering representative is made used of. This liquid is stretched on a plane stone and the item to be carved is preset on the stone. The drawing is decrypted by hand, through resources of untainted wire of silver of ninety five % clarity and chisels is beautified in grooves forming wonderful styles. Below given are the several tools used for carving.

Inlaying :

In the final appealing stage, the objects are heated up lightly and taken care with Sal Ammonic solution and soil taken from ancient fort buildings that has the consequence of creating the entire façade, turning in to jet-black and leaving a distinct disparity to the immaculate silver hatch.

Oxidizing :

This disparity provides Bidri a exclusivity that no supplementary metal ware can possibly claim. Lastly, oil is chafed on the part to intensify the black lusterless coating. This complete process is hand made and is time consuming.

You can get the Bidriware from the following given list of shops: Lal Bahadur Stadium, Sheela’s Indian Handicraft, Gun Foundry, Bidri Craft, Kalanjali Arts & Crafts and Nampally in Hyderabad. Seven Hills Plaza, Cauvery Karnataka State Arts & Crafts Emporium, Lepakshi Handicraft Emporium and Hyderabad & Minerva Complex in S.D. Road, Secunderabad.