ChatGPT said:
Koftgari is a traditional metal inlay technique where gold or silver wires are embedded into iron or steel surfaces through meticulous craftsmanship. The process begins with heating the metal to achieve a blackened base, followed by cross-hatching using a chimi blade to create fine grooves that help hold the delicate inlay wires. Artisans then carefully press thin gold or silver wires into these grooves using a takla tool, working entirely by hand without guides. Once the design is completed, burnishing tools (opani) are used to secure the inlay, and a hakek stone polishes the surface for a refined finish. The final step involves coating the piece with coconut oil to prevent corrosion and enhance its sheen. Koftgari relies on materials such as mild steel, iron alloys, gold, silver, and copper, along with supporting elements like silver foil for faster motif work. The craft is still practiced in small workshops, often within artisans’ homes, using traditional tools such as the bhatti (furnace) for heating, chimi for engraving, takla for embedding wires, and buffing machines for final polishing.
