The Original Craft of the Ironsmiths

The craftsman cuts out the product from a sheet of iron, which was purchased from the market.

The raw material, iron, is bought from the market. The iron sometimes has to be heated to remove impurities if it is not in the form of sheets.

The hot iron is held with tongs (chutki), and beaten on an anvil (kundal) with a hammer to give it the desired shape.

The artisans work together in the family workshop.

A piece of iron is heated on the forge.

The forge uses a blower, which is improvised from a bicycle wheel and attached to a fan.

The artisan hammers a heated piece of iron to the desired shape.

An artisan hammers the heated piece of iron as the other artisan holds the piece steady.

An artisan creates a dish handle from a strip of iron.

Fashioning a dish handle from a strip of iron.

The artisan concentrates as he works on creating a dish handle.

A piece of iron is heated till it is red hot, before it is hammered to the desired shape.

Traditional products include household and farm implements that are used in villages.

A traditional farm tool made out of iron.

Some typical products, like a pair of tweezers, is kept for sale in the local market.

Read more about metal artisans from Rajasthan here:

- Miniature Metal Craft
- Community of Gadiya Lohars