Koftgari- Indian form of damascening

When we look at the glorious past of India, the bygone era of Rajputs has been one of great eminence and bravery. To date, the Rajputs are known for their ceremonious weaponry intricately handcrafted with koftgari art.

Koftgari Sword

The art of koftgari (Indian damascening) closely resembles the damascening found in Persia. This coveted art form was extolled by Sikligar community (found in the states of Gujrat, Punjab and Haryana in India) who handcrafted exquisitely ornamented yet functional arms for the Rajputs and Mughals. Koftgari is now practiced by the artisans of Udaipur region of Rajasthan in India.

The base for koftgari artwork is a hard metal like steel, iron or bronze and the inlay is a soft metal like gold or silver. This combination prevents the base from deforming when the wire inlay is hammered into the surface and results in the inlaid areas being well-defined and of sharp appearance.

 

Koftgari process

The base metal is first scratched with a knife (chirni) in a very close cross-hatch pattern. Then fine silver wire is inlaid with the help of a pointed tool called “salai” in the etched grooves to make outline for the patterns. After this, the main design is filled with gold or silver wires. Once the motifs are filled, the outlining silver wires are removed and melted for reuse. The article is then patinated by holding it over a charcoal fire until the desired purple-black colour is attained. It is then polished with hakik (agate) stone and quenched and treated with vegetable oil to preserve the colour. Designs that use both gold and silver wires are called ganga-jamuna koftgari.

Patterned Dagger

During the Mughal and Rajput rule, the craftsmen often adorned swords, shields, armors, helmets, knives and daggers for the royals but the modern day artisans are giving new dimension to this art by ornamenting domestic items such as jewellery boxes, betel containers, mirror frames. 

Animal Head Dagger

Beautiful handles daggers and knives carved in the shape of different animal heads are quite popular today. These make the perfect gift for any occasion and can be used as wall adornments or even as a stylish paper cutter. The intricate koftgari workmanship on these daggers make them a collector’s prized possession.

Koftgari handcrafted products are amazing stand-out pieces of art with intricate patterns and incredible style. This unique, magnificent and regal craft is amour-propre of India and every piece is a treasure on its own.

Handcrafted Marble Artifacts - Bring Home Royalty

Mention marble artifacts and the first thing that pops up in our mind is elegance with a touch of royalty, and rightly so. The superfine quality of this exquisite objet d’art with its intricate carvings surely adds lushness and luxury to our lifestyle.

Marble Products in Romblon,Philippines.

Marble is a rock resulting from metamorphism of sedimentary carbonate rocks, most commonly limestone or dolomite rocks. Pure white marble is the result of metamorphism of a very pure (silicate-poor) limestone or dolomite protolith. The characteristic swirls and veins of many colored marble varieties are usually due to various mineral impurities such as clay, silt, sand, iron oxides, or chert which were originally present as grains or layers in the limestone. Green coloration is often due to serpentine resulting from originally high magnesium limestone or dolostone with silica impurities. These various impurities have been mobilized and recrystallized by the intense pressure and heat of the metamorphism.

Marble is spatially distributed across the globe with famous ones like Fausky in Norway, Carrara in Italy, Galala in Egypt, Makrana in India etc. As the favorite medium for Greek and Roman sculptors and architects, marble has become a cultural symbol of tradition and refined taste.

The Taj Mahal is entirely clad in marble.

The rich cultural heritage of handcrafted marble artifacts, honed through generations of family expertise, are found across India in the states of Rajasthan, Gujrat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh. Makrana, a large town in Nagaur district of Rajasthan, is the main depository of marble and accounts for over 90% of total marble production in India. Makrana marbles are the oldest and best quality marbles that need no chemical reinforcement. This white marble is soft, easy to carve and has a relative resistance to shattering and has been prized for its use in sculptures since ancient times. The Makrana marble was used in construction of many famous buildings including Taj Mahal, The White House USA, Victoria Memorial of Kolkata, National Assembly of Pakistan.

Gold Embossed and Meenakari Marble Vase.

The hand carvings on high grade Makrana marbles combined with meenakari and kundan work bring the feel of royal Rajasthan to your home. They have also earned immense popularity in the global market. The exotic range of embossed and golden foil work designs on these handicrafts make them ideal gift for different celebrations and festivities. The unmatched beauty of these Makrana marble artifacts with strong aesthetic appeal is great for home and garden décor. The family oriented gifts such as table clock, pen and mobile holders, flower vase, utility containers and gemstone paintings hold great value for the receiver. They are also ideal for promotional corporate gifting.

Make every occasion memorable with these classic and everlasting handcrafted marble artifacts. These timeless gifts are splendid and have great merits too and will be greatly appreciated by your loved one. Enjoy the wide range of exquisite marble artifacts on CraftsMart.