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India's metal craft is centuries old. Technical details, formulae and specifications are found in the
Shilpa Shastras for scientific processing of metals and making well-proportioned idols and figurines.
Brass, a splendid alloy of Copper and Zinc, was created by the Indians overs 2000 years ago. Today brasswares
are made in several parts of the country, with some regional variations.
Most of the brasswork is done in Uttar Pradesh at Aligarh, Hathras, Varanasi and Moradabad. Tanjore in Tamil Nadu is another centre. An alloy of Copper and tin, called Bell-metal, is widely used in Assam, Orissa, Bengal and Kerala. Brasswork is used to make ritual-wares such as lamps, bowls, spoons, incense burners, pots, candle stands and a variety of bells. Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh also does enamelling work on brass in a range of colors. Many places use scrap brass from waste created by ordnance factories making defence equipment - another instance of using recycled waste to craft products. The items are cast using mould casting without using any joints. One of the most common methods used for brass casting is called the 'sand casting'. The mould box, made of iron, is filled with a mixture of sand, boric powder and aluminium dust. The craftsman first makes a rough model of the item using a mix of wax and charcoal. This is then covered with several layers of clay till a thick and solid cover is obtained. This clay mould is then heated to melt the wax. Then, molten metal is poured into the mould. After cooling, the clay mould is broken and the rough cast figure is chiseled to create the fine, decorative details. The item is then polished to get the final look. |