Antiques and Contemporary Bell Metal Objects

A new entrant is the hospitality industry, with corporates and hotels using bell metal products in their interior decor. People who are conscious of having traditional elements in new homes use bell metal artefacts to embellish doorways or other aspects of their interiors.

A bell metal figurine of a female deity. Idols are cast according to the Shilps Shastras, an ancient Indian treatise which laid down the rules in art and craft skills relating to iconography and measurement.

Bell metal lamp used in the temple inside the house of a Theyyam artist.

Bell metal doorway inside the temple.

An Aana Vilakku is an elephant lamp. The Malayalam word ‘villakku’ is a generic word meaning lamp.

The moosaris make 33 kinds of lamps, each with its own name. Among them is the ubiquitous Nelavillakku. With its simple, elegant form, it is integral to all rituals and ceremonies in Kerala.

There is bound to be one, in any size, at every home in India.

A large nilavillakku is always placed prominently on stage to be lit before a performance or important event, as an auspicious beginning.

They are usually placed at the side of a stage during a classical music, theatre or dance performance.

A kindi (a vessel to pour water) is now used for ceremonial purposes.

Initially, during the time before piped water was a common facility, they were used in every house, in Kerala. They were commonly used when washing the mouth and hands after a meal, or to wash bare feet when stepping into the home from outside.

An oil lamp is used in temples for ceremonial purposes.

Changlavatta (oil lamp) used in the temple for ceremonial purposes.

Mugangal, a mask used in the temple.

Metal artefacts used for ceremonial purposes.

Chilamp (anklets) worn by Theyyam dancers, who perform at the temple or on other special occasions in different parts of Kerala, and abroad.

Chilamp worn by a Theyyam dancer.

Vattalam or vaarpu is a large round shallow vessel which is used to cook or mix food in temples, for mass feeding, or even for cooking a large amount of rice to feed elephants. They are used by cooks at weddings as well.

Murum, a vessel to keep rice.

Ser, a vessel to measure rice.

A craftsman shows an old metal casted iron.

A jackfruit in bell metal.

Antique animal figurine in bell metal.

Old bell metal crocodile.

A cow and calf figurine in bell metal.

A small plant in bell metal.

A bell metal artifact of a baby sleeping inside a cradle.

Details of the elephant lamp.

A bell metal figurine of a mother and a child.

Statuette of a man helping a woman carry a load on her head.

A craftsman shows his contemporary bell metal product.

The artisan displays miniature bell metal products.

Read more about Bell Metal Casting here:

- Shaping the Form
- Finishing Process