Bidriware Bangal

Bidri derives its name from  Bidar, the capital city of the bahamani sultans of the 16^th century. The art is Persian in origin and is more than 500 years old, but Bidri is a purely Indian innovation. Bidri is cast with an alloy of zinc, copper and other non-ferrous metals and pretty designs are engraved with a grooving chisel. Thereafter it is inlaid with pure silver wire which is then polished with a buffing machine. The product is then dipped in a solution prepared out of the soil of the fort of Bidar which has special oxidizing properties. The zinc alloy then turns a lustrous black but the silver inlay stays intact to contrast beautifully with the dark background.