In news : Bidriware is one of the products that was displayed in 28th Hunar Haat programme in Panaji, Goa
A brief note on Hunar Haat
- It is an initiative to provide the supremely talented artisans and craftsmen a platform where they can showcase their talent,
- “Hunar Haat” is a “Perfect, Popular and Proud Platform” for indigenous artistry and crafts of the country.
- Ministry: The Union Ministry of Minority Affairs
- The 28th “Hunar Haat” of indigenous products of artisans and craftsmen is being organised at Kala Academy, Campal, Panaji (Goa) from today 26th March to 04th April.
- Theme of Hunar Haat: “Vocal for Local”
About Bidriware
- Bidriware is a combination of blackened alloy of zinc & copper and inlaid with thin sheets of pure silver.
- It is a metal decorative object ornamented with a type of inlay work.
- Bidriware derives its name from the town of Bidar, in Karnataka,
- Bidriware in other parts of India: Hyderabad, Lucknow,Purnia and Murshidabad
- Origin: it originated in the 14th century during the rule of Bahmani Sultans.
- The Bahamani sultans had ruled Bidar in the 14th–15th centuries.
- It was first practised in ancient Persia and then it was brought to India by Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti’s followers.
- The art form developed due to a mix of Persian and Arabic cultures and after the fusion with local style, a new and unique style of its own was created
- GI tag: This native art form has obtained Geographical Indications (GI) registry
- Common Bidriware items: Various flowers (known as asharfi-ki-booti), leaves (vine creepers), geometric designs, human figures, stylized poppy plants with flowers, etc. are commonly found on the items
Process of making Bidriware
- The basic material of Bidriware is an alloy of zinc and copper in the proportion of 16:1.
- It is on this alloy that artistic designs in pure silver are engraved.
- The Bidriware undergoes an eight-stage process.
- The eight stages are molding, smoothening by file, designing by chisels, engraving by chisel and hammer, pure silver inlaying, smoothening again, buffing and finally oxidizing by soil and ammonium chloride
- Now the Bidri item is ready for the final step of making the surface permanently black so that the silver inlay design will stand out in bright contrast against the dark background.
- There is a particular type of soil found in the inner depths of ruins which are three hundred years old, in buildings where neither sunlight nor rain has fallen for hundreds of years.
- The soil, when mixed with ammonium chloride and water, produces a very special paste which is rubbed onto the heated Bidri article.
- The paste darkens the body of the piece, but has no effect on the silver inlay.
- As the paste is rinsed off, the design springs dramatically into view, the shining silver resplendent against the black surface.
- In the end, oil is rubbed on the piece to deepen the black matt coating.
Source: PIB
