Hand-Etching By Burin Engraving Technique
Here the artist’s drawing is reduced to the exact finished size, transferred on tracing paper, and fixed on the smooth body of the pen. After the craftsman outlines the drawing, the engraving is made by hand with a burin, giving a ‘chiaroscuro’ (Italian for light and dark) effect. Some details may be filled with gold, enhancing the work’s value and elegance by providing a contrast between the various elements.
(This story appears in the 13 November, 2015 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)