In Gupta period, metal: craft, textile production, ornament art, woodcraft and stone craft, ivory work etc. saw special progress. Metal craft developed remarkably. A grand example of it is the Iron pillar of Mehrauli. A fine example of copper work of Gupta era is the huge copper.

statue of the Buddha which was found in Sultanganj (District Bhagalpur, Bihar). It is kept in a museum in Birmingham, England. The best form of metal craft of this period can be seen in the coins of this period. Stamps put on copper plates in this era, are also fine example of metal craft.

In Chandragupta II’s period, apart from gold coins, silver and copper coins were also used. These coins have been called ‘Dinar’. Textile manufacturing was also a major industry in the Gupta period, which is mentioned in ‘Amarkosh’. In this period, very fine cloth was made for the affluent class. Textile had a major place in south – north trade in India.

Indian textile was a great demand in foreign markets. Silk fabric, muslin, linen, woollen and cotton textiles were in great demand in foreign countries. The art of ornament making was quite advanced during Gupta era. Various kinds of gemstones were also used apart from gold and silver to make ornaments. ‘Brihatsamhita’ describes 22 types of gemstones.