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Bidri craft is basically a special form of metal craft, an alloy of copper, lead, tin, and zinc, used as a ground for inlaying with gold and silver. Due to it’s striking inlay artwork, bidriware is an important export handicraft of India. Generally, these crafts are quite expensive and symbolize the showcase as a royal or wealth signature. It is a metal craft from Bidar and developed in the era of Bahamani Sultans, during 14th century C.E.
Bidri Craft were influenced by Persian art. It was brought to India during 14th-15th centuries, by Sufi Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chisti on period of Bahamani kings. Firstly, it was introduced to India in form of utensils and the art inside was a mix of Persian and Arabic influences. By time Indians working with Persian artists learned the techniques and style. Then Indian started getting mastered in this and gave birth to Indian form of Bidri Craft.
The Bidri craft has eight steps of entire making process. The eight steps 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. Bidriware is manufactured from an alloy of copper and zinc (in the ratio 1:16) by casting. The zinc content gives the alloy a deep black color.
On the first step, a mold is formed from soil made malleable by the addition of castor oil and resin. The molten metal is then poured into it to obtain a cast piece which is later smoothened by filing in the next step. The casting is now coated with a strong solution of copper sulphate to obtain a temporary black coating over which designs are etched freehand with the help of a metal stylus. On the next step then secured in a vise and the craftsman uses small chisels to engrave the design over the freehand etching. Fine wire or flattened strips of pure silver are then carefully hammered into these grooves in the fourth step. On the next step, the product then is filed, buffed and smoothed to get rid of the temporary black coating. This results in rendering the silver inlay hardly distinguishable from the gleaming metallic surface which is now all silvery-white.
The craft is now ready for the final blackening process. Here on this step a special variety of soil which is available only in the unlit portions of the Bidar fort is used. It is mixed with ammonium chloride and water to produce a paste which is then rubbed onto a heated bidri surface. The paste selectively darkens the body while it has no effect on the silver inlay. Then the paste is get cleaned to show the shiny silver design against the deep black surface. At the end, oil is applied to the product to deepen the matte coating and make the most shine out from silvers. The final product looks brilliant with its silver inlays on deep black surface.
Artist of Bidri craft, claims that the soil has great oxidization property. Others believe that the part of the fort from where soil is brought was a mine and therefore metal extracts in the soil make it unique. The artisans test the mud by their tongues and then decide whether to use the soil or not and they believe that the real art lies inside the soil quality. Hence, it’s a complete handmade craft and from casting to oxidization is done by hands which is time consuming. That’s why bidri craft and bidri utensils are too costlier than other metal craft.
Traditionally, God & Goddess, various flowers, leaves, geometric designs, human figures, elephants, horses etc. are commonly found on the items. Demand for the patterns of Persian roses and passages from the Quran in Arabic script are also in great demand in the West. Earlier, Bidri craft were used for making hookahs, Betel-holders, and vases but now keepsakes, bowls, earrings, trays, ornament boxes, other jewelry and showpiece items are made from it. There are craftsmen in this art practice who took this practice to national and international recognition.
This world-famous artistic metallic work is on the revival path after the introduction of innovative designs and a variety of new patterns. The designs range from Indian to international themes with the latest in home and lifestyle accessories.
The traditional art which is identified with a limited set of designs is now trying to diversify and find a foothold in the present-day market and appeal to younger patrons. New items include USB drive covers, office stationeries such as paper clips, key bunches, lockets, envelope openers, pen stands, lampshades and even floor tiles. National Institute of Design has come up with novel & lighter items that uses less silver and therefore costs lesser.
While Bidar in Karnataka and Hyderabad in Telangana are the most vibrant centers, this art is also practiced in few other parts of the country like Purnia in Bihar, Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh and Murshidabad in West Bengal. The designs are mostly conventional ranging from creepers, flowers and sometimes human figures.
In Aurangabad, the Bidri art was introduced by the Nizam of Hyderabad as it was a part of Nizam's empire then. As Aurangabad has its own rich legacy of art and craft, the Bidri work mingled into the local arts soon. In Indian handicraft industry, Bidri craft is recognized as most exporting craft of India. Now a days with the help and collaboration of e-commerce platforms, it’s too easy for a craftsman to sell his arts with a wider range with negligible middle man commissions. Also some of craft workers admire the fact that, due to some platform who specially work on the niche of art and craft (Like Spenowr) they are getting extra visibility on digital platform and earning extra profits.
