History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c34.s3.2

v1.c34.s3.2

The urban-based craft of jewellery in India was a team work, wherein a band of skilled workers were involved to complete the work right from purifying the metal to the encrustation of finished gems. The work of refining of the various metals was done by a particular class of goldsmith, known as Nyariya. He did the work of melting old ornaments or purifying gold and silver from alloy. The work of a goldsmith was to prepare the skeleton ornament and send it to the ‘Citera’ for engraving. After completing the patterns on gold, the piece was sent to gariā who would chase patterns and designs. This work was called ‘Gadhat’. The ‘murassakār’ or ‘kundanasāz’ was engaged for studding of the gems. Again, a different set of workers, called ‘mināsāz’ were engaged for enamelling. This type of specialisation in the city brought about much better finish than achieved in villages where a single individual Sunār, used to undertake the entire process single-handedly.