Among the vast variety of metalware produced for centuries in India, bidri ware was the first to draw attention of European scholars about 200 years ago. They were drawn to study chiefly their mysterious metal alloy and the technique for producing black velvety sheen on their silver inlaid surface. However, during the last fifty years the charm of bidri ware has been recognized, some articles and books have been published about them, and bidri objects have been exhibited in museums and prestigious exhibitions. Thus bidris have attained a respectable position among Indian metalware.
This beautifully illustrated catalogue of bidri ware in the Jagdish and Kamla Mittal Museum of Indian Art, Hyderabad, is based on Shri Jagdish Mittal's first-hand experience in collecting them, and study of about one thousand bidris since 1951, when he acquired for the first time two bidris at Hyderabad. Based on his indepth research since then, this book provides an updated history of this craft, its origin at Bidar, its metal alloy, various techniques used for its production, types of inlay, constituents of the blackening paste, chronology of shapes and designs, suggestions for their precise dating, as well as their late regional variants at Lucknow, Murshidabad and Purnea. Most importantly, this book has published for the first time fifteen bidris produced during the 17th century. Notably, so many objects of this early period are unknown in any other museum or private collection. Apart from them, the best works of the 18th-19th centuries included in this book will showcase their wide range of shapes and design types through this period. Crucial for the future study of bidri ware are three dated examples in this book, one of them being the earliest known work dated October 1634, the others are dated 1818 and 1859. Additionally, three rare examples of damascene work, a similar technique of silver, brass or gold inlay-work on iron, are published.
This book provides a detailed survey of all aspects of this craft, useful notes and references, and a select bibliography. Based on latest researches about this craft, they will add to precise knowledge about bidris. Significantly, all the fifty objects in the Museum are published in colour along with detailed notes on them. A map and a number of text figures will further help their study. This book will inspire future scholars of Indian metalware and encourage deeper study of this unique art form of the Deccan.

About the Author

Jagdish Mittal, born 1925, is an artist turned art collector and art historian. He is an erudite scholar and a leading authority on Indian art. He is the Principal Trustee of the Jagdish and Kamla Mittal Museum of Indian Art, Hyderabad, a Public Trust, to which he and his artist wife, Kamla gifted their unique collection in 1976. In 1990, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the President of India. His book Andhra Paintings of the Ramayana was published by Andhra Pradesh Lalit Kala Akademi, in 1969. He has delivered lectures on art at various places in India and abroad; presented papers at International seminars, and his articles have been published in prestigious books and journals on Indian art.