Metal Craft

The line dividing crafts and fine arts is practically indistinguishable in the metal crafts of India. Gold, Silver, brass, and bell metal are shaped into intricately designed images, idols, jewellery, and utility items, having a finish and style unique in appeal.

The craftsperson of India excel in this art. With the evolution of new tools, techniques and skills, they are now better equipped to cater to modern tastes. Fully geared to meet modern market demands, today the gold and silver plated articles produced are usually plain or, even when ornamented are devoid of extensive encrustation.

India is the largest brass and copper making region in the world with thousands of establishments spread all over. For articles made out of one or more pieces of metal, the copper or brass sheet is first marked out by a pair of compass and the pieces cut off by a scissor. The required shape is made by alternate heating and hammering, and is finally turned on the lathe. The final polish to the article is given on the lathe itself.

Metal ornaments have been a rave in all ages and times. The attractive contrasts in colours and textures of metals has led to the evolution of metal ornamentation through techniques like inlay, overlay, appliqué, fixing of colours etc.

Bidri, a form of ornamentation, takes its name from the city of Bidar situated north-west of Hyderabad. the work is is black colour which never fades and is relieved with silver and gold inlay.

Enameling is the art of colouring and ornamenting the surface of the metal by fusing over it various mineral substances. The beauty of the article depends on the skill and resources of the worker and the excellence of the materials employed. The range of colours obtained on gold is much greater than that of silver, copper and brass. enameling is extensively practiced in Lucknow and Varanasi. And Jaipur specialises in enameled trays and trinklet boxes.

Pottery & Stone Craft

Rampur surahis (water pots) are noted for their uniform green- blue glazes with plain surfaces, the base being prepared from red clay. a very special kind of earthenware peculiar to Nizamabad in Azamgarh district is distinguished by its dark lustrous body. Alwar, Jaipur and Bikaner of Rajasthan are famed for these products. Kangra in Himachal is rich in clay wares all through the valley while Khanapur, in Belgaum district of Karnataka is noted for its large sized containers and jars. Kutch and Saurashtra in Gujarat are known for their beautiful earthen ware.

Terracotta - Literally meaning baked earth, Indian baked ware of the southern region like large size containers, jars, stools, dresses, tiles etc. have a traditional stamp on them

Pottery (Ceramics) - Beautiful pottery and other ware made of ceramics, is also one of India's famous buys of the states of Rajasthan. It is produced in intriguing white-glazed colour with hand-painted blue flower designs.

Stone Craft & Marble Inlay Work
It's amazing how odd, blocks of stone are cut, shaped, inlaid and polished into beautiful objects of everyday use by the skillful craftsperson of India. Hamirpur district in Uttar Pradesh has nurtured a sizeable stone carving industry with its rich deposits of beautiful soft stone. The stone is many coloured with the predominance of a lovely red shade.  Marble is also used, especially for making statues. In Varanasi the work is done by a community called raidas. The range of items include tableware, plates, glasses, bowls, food containers, candle stands, etc.

Agra is world famous for its superb inlay work in marble, drawing inspiration from the Taj Mahal. The designs are either foilage or floral intertwined with geometrical patterns. Models in marble of the Taj, vases, boxes, lamps, plates, bowls and pitchers in delicately molded shapes & fine carvings are some of the popular items produced here. Intricate friezes and trellis or jali work done in an eye catching range of patterns is also a specialty of this place.

Vrindavan near Mathura has marble as well as alabaster products. Some objects are embossed with semi-precious stones or synthetic gems.

A dark brown stone with yellow spots and lines called sange-rathek is found in Jhansi and its neighbourhood from which lampshades, incense stick stands, small machine grinders are made.

Bihar's very ancient tradition in stone carving is proved by the magnificent sculpture of the  Mauryan period.

Tamil Nadu has a great tradition in stone carving of icons of classical excellence and Rajasthan may be called the land of marble with its stones in various colours and textures.