History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c34.s4.t2: Dies or Thappā Technique

v1.c34.s4.t2.1

However, the ordinary method is to melt the metal and to hammer it into a desired form. This method is suitable to produce solid (*thos*) ornaments. However, if the object is hollow (*polā*), the two halves are produced and then joined together with solder. The patterned ornaments, like the ear-rings with floral designs, bracelets and amulets and produced by putting small circular pieces of molten metal on the dies (*thāppā*) and hammering them until the metal takes the shape required for an ornament. All the smaller units prepared in this process are put on plain pieces of metal at the back and joined together with solder. The ornament is again put in the fire for a few minutes and taken out for cleaning and brightening the surface. Later, it was passed on to *nakās* for engraving artistic design on it, which were to be enamelled.