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Metal work in India is as old as Mohenjodaro civilisation, more than 5000 years ago or more. The rich Indian
terrain provided a wide range of metals and minerals for
the craftsmen to explore and enhance. They used highly scientific methods, and the ancient Sanskrit
'Shilpa Shastras' written by the Brahmin scholars have documented mathematical formulae that were
used for processing of metals!
The variety of metals/alloys used is as vast as the variety of articles made out of these matals. It ranges from the gold deities and theri embellishments to copper utensils and 'white metal' jewellery. Indian metalcraft can also boast of several 'special' metals. Brass, a marvelous fusion of copper and zinc was created in India over 2000 years ago. 'Ashta dhatu' (meaning eight metals), a metal made of brass (copper and zinc), gold, silver, iron, tin, lead and mercury was used for making sacred images with varying proportions for different deities. 
Domes of the Golden Temple at Amritsar, Silver jewellery of Kashmir, Brass work of Moradabad , Aranmula mirror of Kerala, Bastar metals of Madhya Pradesh, Silver filigree and Dhokra castings of Orissa, Bidri work of Karnataka...the list is long and varied - welcome to the world of Indian Metal Craft. |