Brass Rice Bowl

Bal is a bowl used for serving steamed rice. It is round in shape and consists of a body and a foot. The body is cylindrical and tapers toward the foot. Brass bal, which kept steamed rice warm, was commonly used in winter, while a cool porcelain bal was often used in summer. Brass bal tended to form a blue patina on the surface in time. In the past, removing this patina was one of the most difficult household chores for women. They used finely ground roofing tiles and put the powder on a loofah and buffed the brassware until it became lustrous again.