Brass and copper metals outshines and harmonizes the rich visual magnificence of inhabited places in Gujarat! From temples to ceremonies, houses to ethnic eateries, museums to markets, all sing the saga of kansara or the metalsmiths working on array of brass and copper products. Rows of gleaming polished pots and pans, vessels and pitchers, bowls and boxes characterize and illustrate the kitchen interior of a Gujarati household. The brightness and luster of metalware in any religious ceremony or temple mesmerizes the beholders in an aura of tranquility and radiance.
Beaten brass and copperware is best exemplified by the ability of a skilled craftsman to turn a single sheet of copper into a three-dimensional object simply by beating it with a hammer. Simple as its sounds, the complex process of the metalsmiths in Gujarat create the most magnificent range of utilitarian articles for varied purposes.
Gujarat is known for the variety of utensils created in diverse shapes and sizes; each designed and fabricated to serve a particular purpose or aid in a specific chore. Plates, bowls, pots, pitchers, box for spices to container for jewelry, nutcrackers, and cutlery are all created in brass and copper which have been popular over centuries for their anti-bacterial properties. Copper has been known as an excellent natural water purifier whereas the high resistance power of brass makes it a brilliant appliance for cooking.
Traditional Trivia
Appliances used for cooking and eating as well as containers used for storing and preserving have played a substantial role in the history of material culture in Gujarat. Functional and utilitarian products for daily use were not only fashioned keeping variety of applications in mind but also were adorned and embellished in numerous ways to amplify the visual appeal.
Utensils perform a noteworthy role in the social and cultural ethos of Gujarat. Whether it is a living space in rural area or kitchen space of traditional house in an urban area, pompous display of brass and copper utensils marks as an important element of interior design as well as dignifies the status of the family in the society. Brass and copper ware for their high value serve as material security while showcasing the same illustrates the family affluence.
Brass and copper ware also form momentous part of social ceremonies like marriages, child birth, thread ceremony and festivals like Diwali. Amongst pastoral and other native communities of Gujarat, utensils form an integral part of the trousseau which is given to the daughter’s during time of wedding. It is customary to present or gift collections of kitchen ware during any festive occasion. Religious ceremonies almost are incomplete without the glittering impression of lit lamps and decorated thalis prepared for veneration rituals.
Based on each occasion and purpose the metalsmiths keep fabricating utensils of varied patterns and forms. Unique dexterity and techniques of the kansaras also fashioned products like the trousseau containers known as dablo which were treasured under the ground to protect from robbery. The container recognized for its distinct shape and ornamentation also was known for its exceptional quality of being water proof. The origins of the kansaras can be traced back to Marwar and one can note the amount of similarity in styles of design and techniques of brass and copperware of the two states. A major influence of the Mughal Empire can also be seen in products like long necked vessels, potbellied perfume sprinklers, and lampshades etc which were introduced after their advent.
Anecdotes and Outtakes
Utensils and containers hold a major religious implication in the state. It is believed that if all the metal wares are not polished and cleaned during the festival of Diwali, Goddess Laxmi who is the manifestation of wealth does not enter the house leading to which the family gets deprived of luck and fortune. Hence every Diwali each family scrub and polish their collection of utensils till they shine and reflect the glitter of the festival of light and prosperity.
Glossary of Local Terms
- Pitala- Brass
- Tamba- Copper
- Kansa- Bronze
- Jasta- Zinc
- Loha- Iron
Community Involved
Kansaras, whose name is derived from Sanskrit word kansu which means bronze.
Raw Materials Used
- Brass sheets
- Copper sheets.