It is a decorative art that survived from the Romans around Van. The origin of the niello work goes back to the Urartians. During the Ottoman period, the authority to instill tughra on 900 carat silver was obtained by means of the Niello embroideries in Van Province together with Istanbul. The niello work master draws the designed figure on the silverware where the art will be affixed. Then the master meticulously opens fine channels on the sketch with a steel-tipped capillary pen. An alloy called niello work is achieved by mixing at a temperature of 750 degrees. The mass, being left to cool, is beaten first on the anvil and then in a mortar until turning into powder. Later, it is applied to the capillary channels that are opened before and is ready for use after being polished. Good niello work shines brighter every day.
