222 ON INDIAN MANUFACTURES IN PRECIOUS BLEriaua. 



presentation of the avatars, or pictures of the metamorphoses of Indian 

 deities ; and the work is so perfect that it will stand, not only the in- 

 fluence of climate, but even rough handling. 



The specimens of this kind of work have no fixed market value, and 

 the price is therefore entirely dependent upon the number of competi- 

 tors that may be in the field when any of them are offered for sale. A 

 set of these ornaments, consisting of a necklace, earrings, two armlets, 

 and a brooch in plain gold, contributed to the Exhibition of 1851, was 

 valued at 1,700 rupees or 1701. A duplicate forwarded to the Paris Exhi- 

 bition in 1855, was purchased for 600r., or 60Z. 



Koftgari work, or steel inlaid with gold, has in former days been car- 

 ried on to a considerable extent in various parts of India. It was chiefly 

 used for decorating armour ; and among the collections exhibited on the 

 present occasion are some very fine specimens of guns, coats of mail, hel- 

 mets, swords, and sword handles, to which the process of Koftgari has 

 been successfully applied. These specimens, however, are not the manu- 

 facture of the present day. Since the late rebellion in India, the manu- 

 facture of arms has been generally discouraged, and Koftgari work is 

 consequently now chiefly applied to ornamenting a variety of fancy . 

 articles, such as jewel caskets, pen and card trays, paper weights, paper 

 knives, inkstands, &c. The process is exactly the same as that pursued 

 in Europe, and the workmen can copy any particular pattern required. 

 The work is of high finish, and remarkable for its cheapness. 



Koftgari is chiefly carried on in Goojerat and Kotli, in the Sealkote 

 district. It was formerly much in vogue for decorating armour and the 

 blades and hilts of swords, but the artisans now confine themselves 

 chiefly to the manufacture of ornamental paper knives, &c. The speci- 

 mens above mentioned have been contributed by the Kotli artisans. 



Several admirable specimens of inlaid metal work by the native arti- 

 sans of Bhooj were to be seen in the collection of arms contributed by 

 H. H. the Rao of Kutch for the Exhibition. 



The native silversmiths of Cuttack have long been noted for the fine- 

 ness, neatness, and lightness of their filigree work. This kind of work is 

 executed, for the most part, under supervision, by mere boys, whose 

 nimbler fingers and keener eyesight are supposed to enable them to bring 

 out and put together the minute patterns with more distinctness and 

 accuracy than their elders can ; comparative cheapness is, perhaps, 

 another reason for their employment. The ruling rates for this filigree 

 work are from two to two and a half rupees, that is to say, taking the 

 first rate, two rupees or four shillings is charged for every rupee weight 

 of finished silver work, namely, one rupee for workmanship, and one 

 rupee as the price of the silver. This branch of industry is, however, 

 declining from want of sufficient demand. These articles are all of the 

 purest silver. The filigree work in gold seems almost as good as that of 

 Delhi. 



A large number of articles in gold and silver are] annually made at 



