IMG_3707

Bikaner gold lacquer ware on pottery:
Lacquer ware was the most famous craft of Bikaner. It was traditionally only applied to weed, stone, glass and metal The technique involves the application of liquid clay on the surface of the wood, which is then dry, the outlines of a flower pattern was stenciled with a bag of powdered charcoal through perforated paper. Successive layers of liquid clay were then applied with small squirrel's hair brushes within the outlines of the pattern, each layer belnI allowed to dry before the next application until a raised surface, bringing out the stalks, leaves and petals with sufficient distinction had been produced. The whole surface was then fixed by a coat of paint and when this was dry, gold leaf was applied over all. The style of ornamentation is either floral or geometrical, influenced by available colour plates of the Taj Mahal marble work and very frequently the ground is broken up into medalllons. The colors are very bright and limited. In the most typical work the design is in relief, in other cases the ware is merely painted. The beauty of the work is enhanced by the free use of gilding.