Repousse is done on all types of articles. The objects are first moulded into the required shape and burnished; the engraver then traces the design with a chisel, filling up the open ground with dots and spots produced by punching. The work is very light, often little more than an outline drawing. Formerly much more skill was displayed by the Benares engravers, and the decay of their art may be attributed partly to the influence of western ideas. The metal repousse process is entirely done by hand, using the traditional tool. It is a home-based activity, one in which the artisans have been working since generations.
