Tarkashi

Tarkashi is an art of inlaying brass into wood. This method, prevalent mainly in parts of North India, is utilized to beautify articles made of wood.

The idea of using brass to decorate wood was originally conceived in Mainpuri, a small town in Uttar Pradesh. It involved drawing of brass into wires and inlaying it on wood in a decorative manner. The glitter of the brass added to the beauty of the wooden object.

In the initial stage, the technique was implemented on wooden footwear. Later on, its use was extended to a variety of objects ranging from furniture to pen. In Rajasthan, Tarkashi art is combined with gold and silver plating to decorate objects like doors, chariots, swings and cradles of Jain and Vishnu temples.