21/07/2026
Yesterday we welcomed visitors to the SOAS Gallery for our latest Object in Focus seminar, exploring the history of Bidriware through objects from the SOAS collections.
Rather than beginning with what was already known, we used the objects themselves as our starting point. Looking closely at their materials, decoration, inscriptions and signs of use, we explored how museum collections can help us uncover the histories of objects, even when documentation is limited.
Using paintings, historic photographs and the collections themselves, we traced Bidriware's changing story across centuries. From its earliest associations with royal patronage in the Deccan, we followed its journey into international exhibitions, museums and private collections during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, before considering contemporary Bidriware and the ways today's artisans engage with new audiences, including the tourist market.
Along the way, we also explored the remarkable process of making Bidriware, from casting and engraving to the striking black finish and silver inlay that have made it one of South Asia's most distinctive metalworking traditions.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for an afternoon of object-based learning and lively discussion.
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