AN INITIATIVE OF CRAFT REVIVAL TRUST.  Since 1999

Seep ka kaam is a popular pearl and shell craft practiced in the Jodhpur city of Rajasthan. Products such as  boxes. lamp stands, candle stands, ashtrays, chessboard, flowerpots and photo frames etc are created under this craft-form. Tools such as grinder, metal cutter, shell cutter and wood saw are used for the crafting purposes. The dark outer side of the shell is stripped using ghisai or scraping, which often smoothens and thins the shell using a metal cutter so that it can be cut to reach the desired designs.

The shell or pearl can also be inlaid into brass items that are patterned with gentle depressions into which the shell can be set. After that, the item is polished with emery and waxed to give it a shiny appearance. It can also be given an antique finish by adding a mehendi (henna) paste to its back, which is then washed away to expose shells with different tints.

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