Bidri craft is named after the place Bidar in Karnataka, from where it originated. The unique artwork is originally gifted by Persian artists.

History: The artisans from Persia came to Bidar and trained Bidri artisans to create masterpieces. Later, the art found patronage among the Nizams of Hyderabad who took special interest in inviting artists from Bidar to set up workshops in the city.

Mr. Khaleel Ahmed from Hyderabad’s Purani Haveli area is one of the very few remaining Bidri Craftsmen in Hyderabad who are continuing this 14th-century craft.

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“I have learned the Bidri craft from my grandfather and father who were both Bidri artisans. Bidri wares are made from a mixture of zinc and copper with a lavish coating of silver in their interiors. Earlier, there used to be a great demand for these metal-crafted art pieces. Because there was a constant demand for these art pieces earlier, the high cost of raw materials never bothered us. However, as the availability of other alternatives came in, the rising cost of silver and the non-availability of soil is now bothering us. Despite multiple appeals to the state government, we are still grappling for financial assistance to train the workers and revive this age-old craft,” Khaleel says.

The customers for Bidriware were niche – they were the affluent who fancied eating from silver plates and decorating their homes with expensive art ware.