Copper Artifacts

The charming old pieces still made and sold by craftsmen directly, on order, or through shops include self-standing water heaters.

The water heaters require the most number of processes to be made. That is why a collective of workers are needed.

They make new heaters and also rework and renovate old pieces.

The hinges of the water heater are made in brass although the lid is made in copper.

Craftspersons also make miniature versions of the popular water heater and bucket, which are common items in India.

The tambats also make copper lotas, which are small water containers used for bathing or storage of drinking water.

Metal workers began making very large sized cooking vessels to cook biriyani (a meat and rice dish) when non-vegetarian rulers of earlier times required meat cooked in large quantities. Cooking of meat was always done outdoors.

Today customers for these large cooking vessels are professional caterers, hotels and restaurants.

The tambhats excel in making tiffin carriers using brass or bell-metal since it is considered good for serving food.

The craftsman also make traditional brass kettles like these which are mainly used for making tea.

The craftsman also make other cooking equipment like ladles.

Thalis, or large dining plates, are also popular and a preferred utensil to eat food in.

Brass is preferred over copper when making any utensils for food, since the latter makes food acidic.

The various devotional items made by copper craftsmen have a steady market.

The craftsmen make statues of various gods, goddesses and political leaders in copper and brass as well.

With the intervention of professional designers, a group of copper workers have started creating sophisticated and simply designed every day objects.

The craftsmen have started use coppper along with wood to make stylish platters like the one in the image. This wooden cheese platter has a leaf shaped copper bowl on top

This hand cut and shaped candle holder in the shape of a flower is also a popular design.


These design innovations have a universal appeal and help create new markets for the craftsmen.

The craftsmen have expanded their design vocabulary to adapt the aesthetic of a resonance bowl and turn it into a contemporary utilitarian item like this floater.

Artisans use both copper and brass to make lamp shades. They use tongue and groove joints to join the different pieces together.

This contemporary range of products has been exhibited and has a market all over the world.

Water carafe is a popular product that is made by the tambats. Copper is considered beneficial to store water in, and these water carafes are a contemporary design adopted by the copper craftsmen.

These are designed in such a way that the cover of the carafe acts as a drinking cup.

The popularity of contemporary designs show that the coppersmiths have successfully adapted their skills to contemporary designs.

Read more about Pune's Copper Craft here:

- Pune’s Community of Copper Workers
- Portraits of Master Copper Workers