How are Silver Prices Killing this 600 Year Old Craft?

#art #decorate #design #diydecoration #sculpture #ceramic

For 600 years, artisans have used a secret, magical soil from the Bidar Fort to turn metal pitch black. But today, the legendary royal craft of Bidriware is fighting a desperate war for survival against skyrocketing silver prices and factory-made fakes. Born during the Bahmani Kingdom when Persian master Abdul bin Kaiser brought intricate Arabic designs to local Indian metalworkers, Bidriware became the ultimate symbol of royal prestige. Today, it remains one of India's most breathtaking traditional handicrafts. In this episode, we travel deep into the dusty workshops and forgotten underground cellars of the Bidar Fort. Witness the grueling, painstaking process of genuine Bidriware: from the delicate pure silver inlay work to the astonishing moment the metal is boiled in fort soil to achieve its signature high-contrast black finish. But as the real masters struggle to afford raw materials, cheap painted counterfeits are flooding the market. Can a new generation of change-makers and modern designs save this incredible piece of living Indian history before it disappears forever?

IF YOU WISH TO PURCHASE BIDRIWARE HANDICRAFTS CONTACT BIDRIWALA -
Contact: +91 99863 99663
Website: https://www.bidriwala.com/
Instagram: / bidriwala2014

ABOUT STORIES THAT MATTER:
‘Stories That Matter’ is a documentary series by Raga Productions where we try to uplift some stories that deserve to be in the limelight. We believe every single individual in this world has a story to tell, through our initiative we try to push some stories that the media fails to cover.

Stories That Matter is owned and managed by Raga Productions.

FILM PRODUCTION UNIT:

Shot by:
Hemanth Kumar
Shashank Acharya

Edited & Coloured by:
Sakshith Kotian

Finance & Accounts:
CA Ranjith Ambalpady

Special Thanks to:
Amarnath Shetkar
Abdul Bari
Yasin
Ramesh
Sulochana
Habib
Abdul Hamid
Dr. Sridhar
Dr. Nagaraj
Management of Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College

Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
01:54 - What is Bidriware? (The Royal Origins)
02:39 - The Secret Magic of Bidar Fort Soil
03:17 - The Masters Guarding a 600-Year Legacy
04:40 - The Harsh Reality Behind the Masterpieces
05:09 - Skyrocketing Silver: A Craft in Crisis
06:14 - The Unfair War Against Cheap Fakes
06:46 - The Grueling Process of Authentic Bidriware
08:26 - Will This Art Survive?
08:41 - The Change-Makers Stepping In to Help
09:12 - Modern Designs for a New Generation
09:48 - Outro

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