Aranmula Kannadi
Other Metal Crafts
History
Kerala has a long-standing tradition of crafting ritual and utilitarian metalware, including lamps, bells, uralis, cymbals, and mirrors. Perfected by the Kammalar community, this craft highlights the region’s metallurgical expertise in high-tin bronze alloys. Each piece reflects Kerala’s spiritual and cultural identity, serving temple rituals, performing arts, and household functions for centuries.
Raw Materials and Tools
The key raw materials include bronze (23% tin-bronze for mirrors, bell metal for lamps), wax, clay, and molds. Tools include hand-turned wooden lathes, chisels, polishing wheels, and furnaces. Clay, rice husk ash, and dung are used for mold reinforcement. Women traditionally assist in recycling mold materials and applying clay layers.
Process
Kerala’s artisans employ the lost-wax casting technique. A wax model is shaped and encased in layered clay, dewaxed, and preheated. Molten metal is poured, cooled, and released from the mold. In Aranmula mirrors, artisans polish the high-tin bronze alloy to create flawless reflectivity. For large uralis, Nadavarambu and Mannar artisans build robust molds, pour molten bronze, and refine surfaces with manual and mechanical lathes.
Design and Color
Designs range from elaborate temple lamps (kudirai vilakku, kavara vilakku, thookku vilakku) with ornate motifs, to minimalist uralis with smooth curves. Aranmula mirrors, with their ivory or brass frames, are prized for their metallic sheen and distortion-free reflection. The bronze’s golden-brown hue, often deepened by polishing, adds elegance and durability.
Product Range
Kerala’s metalware includes temple lamps, bells, uralis, ladles, cymbals, incense burners, and mirrors. The Aranmula Kannadi is a GI-tagged heirloom mirror and part of the Nair wedding trousseau. The urali, once used in cooking and rituals, is now a decorative centerpiece in homes and hotels. Functional items like bowls and vessels continue to blend heritage with modern use.