Bidri Box #2
This pretty little metal trinket box will surprise you when you find how heavy it is for such a small little box.Bidri is an artform that has been in existense in India for many centuries. Although it's origins are in Syria, India has taken the artform and over the years fine-tuned it and made it synonamous with Indian craftsmanship.
Bidri items begin as a mixture of copper and zinc cast poured into red clay molds. After it has cast, the item is sanded and then rubbed with a copper sulphate solution which gives the item a dark surface. The artist then chisels his design into the item. Once the design is complete, silver sheets are hammered into the crevices of the design. The surface is then sanded and buffed before being heated and treated with a solution of sal=ammoniac and earth. This makes the entire surface turn a deep black color. To finish the piece, the artisan rubs it down in oil to deepen the lustrous matte finish.