Science and Art of Calligraphy and Painting

Author(s): S Andhare
Publisher: Indian National Science Academy

Page 56

A PAPER GLAZER
AGATE
kaodi
RE
Fig 2 Dog tooth burnisher
29
Ghunto, Opni: Burnisher
All paper manufacturers or sellers get their stocks of paper burnished before selling it in the open market. Raw paper needs to be burnished i. e.its sufrace has to be made smooth so that the pen runs smoothly on it and ink does not spread.
Old stock of paper lying in godowns often gets affected by moisture during rainy season and paper gets swollen. While writting on such sheets not only spreads the ink on it but also creates blobs on the surface and spoiles the writing. To remedy this, paper sheets are dipped in to solution of alum water for some time and when they are in semi dried condition they are burnished with large size agate burnishers (Fig.1) Some times Kasoti stone (which goldsmiths use for testing purity of gold) or large shells, Kaodis, are also usd for this purpose.
In the case of golden letters appearing on Jain manuscripts and in miniature paintings, glden portions need to be burnished to get more gloss. This is done with the help of a dog-tooth burnisher, which is made in the shape of a dog's tooth made of agate stone attached to a wooden handle (Fig. 2)
In case of large paintings on cloth and paper such as patas or Vaishnava Pichhvais (discussed earlier), large size burnishers are used as indicated in (Fig.1)
Jain