Bidar's metal handicrafts attract Mangaloreans

Mangalore, January 15: Bidri art or Bidriware has made the name of North Karnataka's sleepy mountain town famous across seven seas. The 17th National Youth Festival created a wonderful opportunity for the Bidri artisans from Bidar to exhibit and sell their beautiful creations.

The exhibition set up at Karavali Grounds, here, by members of Bidri and Chidri Yuvaka Mandala, North Karnataka Crafts and Cultural Development Society, as part of the Fest, attracting a large number of people.

“This craft is a hereditary occupation passed on from generation to generation. Over ancestors were expert in this. It is our desire that our children too should not forget this”, said Ubaidullah, an expert Bidri artisan.

“This is a symbol of prestige. Ratan Tata has presented US President Barak Obama a Bidriware gift during latter's recent India visit”, said Ubaidullah, who had created a special invitation through Bidriware for the engagement of Bollywood stars Abhishek Bachchan and Karishma Kapoor.

Bidriware is a metal handicraft that originated in Bidar, Karnataka, in the 14th century C.E., during the rule of the Bahamani Sultans. The term 'Bidriware' originates from the township of Bidar, which is still the chief centre for the manufacture of the unique metalware. Due to its striking inlay artwork, Bidriware is an important export handicraft of India and is prized as a symbol of wealth. The metal used is a blackened alloy of zinc and copper inlaid with thin sheets of pure silver.

The origin of Bidriware is usually attributed to the Bahamani sultans who ruled Bidar in the 13th–15th centuries. Abdullah bin Kaiser, a craftsman from Iran was invited by the Sultan to work on decorating the royal palaces and courts. According to some accounts, Kaiser joined hands with local craftsmen and gave birth to Bidriware. Since then, the craft has been handed down succeeding generations mostly among the local Muslim and Lingayat sects.

Bidriware is manufactured from an alloy of copper and zinc (in the ratio 1:16) by casting.

Bidriware is an important handicraft exported out of India. Collecting these items is a status symbol among the rich and famous. They contain patterns made of zinc and copper and inlaid with pure silver wire or thin sheets. The craftsmanship and skilled labour involved in creating Bidriware are priceless.

An essential ingredient of Bidri articles is the soil from the floor of ancient buildings and forts. This soil, which has not received rain or sunlight for centuries, has chemicals that give a lustrous black colour to Bidriware. Artisans use such soil from inner areas of the Bidar fort. That is one reason why Bidriware cannot be produced on a large scale.