Magam Soliya (2024)

Pure silver is expensive. With the global price of silver fluctuating, a single medium-sized samovar requires silver worth thousands of dollars just for the raw material, before a single hour of labor is added.

Markets in Mumbai, Delhi, and even the flea markets of Kashmir are flooded with "silver look" pieces made of German silver (nickel, copper, zinc) or stainless steel with machine-stamped designs. These cost a fraction of the price and require no skill to produce. The average tourist cannot tell the difference, and thus genuine Magam Soliya struggles to compete. magam soliya

Websites focusing on "conscious luxury" are now selling Magam Soliya with a certificate of authenticity, including the artisan’s name and photograph. For a millennial buyer in New York or London, the story of the craft is as valuable as the item itself. Pure silver is expensive