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Design Gallery
Bell Metal Design of Orissa
The Craft of Moulding Metals
by
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The scrap metal is melted at high temperatures.
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The molten metal is then put in a mould. entrance as seen from a level below.
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The metal is then heaved out of the mould.
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The various kinds of clasps, hammers, chisels and all other tools used in the preparation of the brass metal products.
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It is light hammered at the edges to bend sharp corners.
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The file is used to scrap the extra material to smoothen the surface texture.
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The artisan then aligns the two parts of the pot together.
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The artisan then checks for the accuracy of the aligned parts of the pot.
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A local adhesive is applied at the joining of the parts and is heated at high temperatures.
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The pot is lightly hammered to make it more durable and long lasting.
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It is then polished with a local grease to improve the surface texture.
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Small dents are then made on the pot to improve the aesthetics and the pot is now ready to be marketed.
Orissa is known for its high level perfection in making bell metal crafts. This craft is perhaps the single most important craft in terms of the number of the artisans engaged in its practice. The craft is practiced by the people of the "Kansari" caste who are the metal smiths in the state while another variety, "Dhokra" is practiced mainly by "Sithulias".
The socio cultural ties of this handicraft are very strong. According to the tradition of Orissa the bride is presented with items of brass and bell metal as per the status of the family permits. While in the villages these are extensively used for eating and cooking. In almost all major temples the moving image or the 'Chalanti Pratima' of the presiding deities are brass icons. Similarly the use of 'ghanta' or 'ghanti' is both important and indispensible for all kind of worshipping. Hundreds of gongs are beaten and used even during the 'RathYatra' in Puri.
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