Making Copper Products in Pune

The tambats were patronized by the Mughals, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Peshwa kingdom as well as by local chieftains or administrative authorities like tax collectors, for whom they made idols of their particular deities, protective casings for stone idols, weapons, and most importantly, coins.

The craftsman marks out cirles on an entire copper sheet.

Compasses of various sizes are used to make circles on the metal sheet.

The left over pieces are melted and re-used.

The lathe machine is an important tool in the workshop. It helps in shaping metal into the desired shape.

The die is arranged inside the copper shape which is to be formed on the lathe machine.

The collapsible die is made of Acacia wood since acacia wood is easy to maintain.

A metal key is inserted to hold the wooden die in place.

The key is an essential tool to ensure that the shape of the product is maintained.

The artisans use a linear collapsible die for taller objects.

Wooden die is used instead of metallic ones because metal on metal creates fiction.

The use of die ensures that the metal is shaped into the desire shape. Seen here are the before and after stages of turning the metal on the lathe machine.

The metallic scrap from the lathe machine is reused. No scrap of metal is wasted in the workshop.

Coal is the preferred fuel used for the firing process.

Once the furnace is ready, the shaped object is fired.

After the first firing, the vessel is cooled by dipping it in water.

The vessel is re-fired after the dip in the water.

The final dip in water helps in cooling down the vessel temperature.

Tamarind paste or lime is used for polishing the utensil.

The hammer used for embossing copper utensils is called 'polat'. It is this highly buffed and polished hammer that gives copper products their signature look.

It is also extremely strong and made of the same metal that is used to make railway tracks.

To maintain the excellence of the final emboss, the craftsmen polish their hammer on their own old leather shoes.

Final buffing of the product is done to give the metal finish a smooth shine.

Various tools like chisels, compass and hammers are used in every stage of making the vessels.

Cutting and shaping the metal begins with the help of a paper cutout.

Seen here is a craftsman with the paper cutout of a flower shaped candle holder.

Flower shaped candle holders are cut and shaped entirely by hand.

Two copper pieces before and after being treated with oxidising salt.

Copper workers often join copper and brass together in the same piece, like in the piece on the right in the image.

Both metals are joined together with a tongue and groove joint, which is a traditional hinge or fastener used by the copper workers.

These joints add a nice element of detailing in the design.

Called the ‘lost wax’ process, it is a method where wax is poured into aluminium foil moulds.

The metal is shaped either with wax or tar.

The shaped object when heated, causes the wax to melt and pour out.

Copper workers use a saddle-like seat like this one for sitting while working. Its design is a unique combination of wood and metal, that helps turn metal pieces on the central iron rod.

The water heater is built in parts. Seen here is a copper worker shaping the central shoot of the water heater.

The base for the water heater is formed separately. A metallic mould is used to help form the base frame.

The base frames are kept ready in the workshop and attached to the main body once it is ready.

For the copper lid, the craftsmen fashion tongue and groove joints to attach it to the body of the water heater.

The lids for the water heater have space for the center pipe through which steam escapes and one for pouring water in.

The workshop is equipped with all the materials that are needed for welding.

Various parts of the water heater undergo the firing process individually after being shaped.

Once the entire water heater is constructed it undergoes the firing process one more time.

The water heaters require the most number of processes to be made.

The impurities are washed away before the final finishing of the water heater can be undertaken.

The crafts persons also repair old utensils in addition to making new ones.

The copper workers keep the old shaping moulds made of iron or stone in their workshops.

These moulds were made in iron or stone since the dimensions of traditional items were always standard.

Read more about Pune's Copper Craft here:

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