GiTAGGED Ashta Lakshmi with Venkateshwara Tri-Metal Thanjavur Art Plate

Cherished for about 250 years for its exquisite beauty and vigor of its style, the Thanjavur Art Plate is encrusted in Silver against the finely engraved background of copper and brass.

Material Used:
The artifact consists of three components: the base plate, a circular plate of metals with primary relief, and the secondary relief. Sheets of brass are used to make the base plate, silver sheets to craft the reliefs, lead to create moulds to project the three-dimensional images, and an asphalt or wax board to fix the plate.

Process:
The procedure of production involves the making of the base plate followed by the casting of the copper plate, preparing moulds, and crafting the motifs on copper plates and dyes. The base plate is also covered with motifs. Floral and other designs are carved on the reliefs, and the product is then finished by polishing.

Uniqueness:

The Thanjavur Art Plate is an artifact which is exclusively made in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India.

This craft originated in and around Thanjavur during 1755 AD.

This type of tri-metal work is not being done anywhere other than in Thanjavur.

Usually, the figures of gods and goddesses are embossed at the center of the art plate.

Generally the designs follow a theme, mythological or non-religious and some times special motifs of requirement.

 
Thanjavur Art Plate has been Conferred with the Geographical Indication (GI) status by the Government of India in 2007 with GI Number 42.