Tukri Work is a special craft in which colored and mirror glass pieces are inlaid into a gypsum plaster. The gypsum plaster, called gach, is applied on walls and cut into artistic forms, which forms the base for an art-form called Gatch work.
Tukri work received great patronage from the Mughal rulers and the Sikh chiefs. The glass used in this work is usually given a coating of copper. Occasionally a coating of mercury is done on the inner surface of the thin glass. The glass is broken and the pieces are shaped into appropriate shapes using a sharp edged stone called ‘krund.’ Dents are made on the figures created with Gatchi work and they are fitted with the glass pieces to form the required motif.
Buildings exhibiting the Tukri work are often termed ‘Sheesh Mahal’ (glass house).
