Pila Screen 01

The metal technique of bidri takes its name from the city of Bidar in Karnataka, India, where the craft was developed during the 17th century after arriving from Persia. Patronage by the Mughal empire, known for their sophisticated taste, created a tradition of masterpieces made with silver inlay. Later, the craft saw a revival after being featured in the Great Exhibition in London in 1851 and the International Exhibition in Paris in 1855. Pieces from around this time exist in the collections of the V&A and the British Museum, while the rarer earlier examples are highly prized at auction. 

The craftsmanship consists in inlaying a pure silver or gold wire in an alloy of zinc and copper. Cast, worked and oxidized in a deep black hue, the magic of this technique lies in the soil of Bidar. In contact with the engraved metal, the soil blackens the final piece instantly, showing off the silver inlay to perfection. 

Four majestic sculptural volumes engraved with pure silver stands like columns. When unfolded, the Pila panels reveal the specially commissioned drawings in all their glory. 

The free hand lines gleam from within the metal alloy oxidized in the mysterious earth of Bidar. They are scenes full of subtle storytelling: behind the bodies of Brucher’s signature wrestlers, there are references to the landscape and architecture of Bidar, as well as elements from the bidri process itself. Rivers and ruins can all be glimpsed in images charged with the same level of symbolism as Indian miniature paintings. The illustrations display Brucher’s research into the region and the craft; while the original works on paper make up part of the scenography, these are lines that were drawn to be hammered in silver. 

Commissioned and developed by æquō, the screens are exemplary both of the gallery’s collaborative process and of its ambition to create masterpieces of contemporary craftsmanship. The Pila screens are the work of master craftsman Mohammamed Abdul Rauf, whose Bidar-based workshop executed the historical silver inlay craft. Recently celebrated and credited with a revival of the technique, Rauf is considered to be one of only two master craftsmen in the art. 

4 Panel, 2022
Illustration : Boris Brucher
Design: Florence Louisy
Material: Silver inlay in casted metal alloy
Craftmanship: Bidriware - Bidar, Karnataka
Maximum Dimension (cm): H180 x W120
Edition: 3