The most important traditional handicraft of southern India is Bidri art, which is also known as koftgari.. This Bidri art, named after the place in Bidar in Karnataka, is famous for Nirmal toys, Pochampally sarees, and banjara needlework… gave birth to this Bidri art, named after the Bidri tribe in Bidar.

Bidri is the technique of inlaying silver and gold on black metal. According to historians, artisans from Persia who relocated to Bidar during the reign of Shah Jahan are responsible for popularizing this migrant art. During the 13th century, the Sultanates of Bahamani and Baridi existed. Gun metal, which is a metallic combination of copper and zinc, is used in Bidri artworks. Lead is sometimes used to give black metal a gleaming sheen.

Various steps are involved in the entire process, such as 

Casting , polishing , engraving, inlaying, and blackening the metal alloy used to create the final product Pure silver is used for engraving the patterns on the moulded items. The themes chosen by them are leaves, fish shapes, poppy plants with flowers, and mango shapes. After polishing finished. The blackening of the alloy is done to brighten the silver against a dark background.

Interestingly, even today, artisans use technical jargon like ” Tarkashi”, low relief as “Zarnishan”, high relief as”Zarbulund”,and cut out designs are termed “Aftabi”.

Products

Flower vases, motifs, religious idols, lamps, home décor items, ash trays, and wall hangings are some of the most popular items made with Bidri crafts, and they have become popular across borders over the years. These works of art adorned the Royal Sultan’s palaces as well as the homes of prominent merchants.

According to legend, royal men and women have used Huqqa for centuries. A woman smoking while donning a Huqqa is one of many artifacts in the Salarjung Museum.

Conclusion

Bidar’s Indian craftsmanship excelled in assimilating a foreign craft into India’s heritage. Art made of bidriware is not a handicraft. The result of the karigars’ complete dedication to the arts, Bidriware gave India’s history a new flavor. Bidri is a symbol of wealth. The GI is a property of Bidar in Karnataka.