Practised since the eleventh century, the craft of making utilitarian and devotional articles from brass and bronze is a speciality of the Kansari community of Odisha, in India. In addition to containers and implements for cooking, serving, eating and food storage, the artisans are known for producing ceremonial objects such as lamps and bells for homes and temples. Brass, locally called pital, and bell metal — a type of bronze, known in India as kasa, kansa or kansya — are copper alloys that find mention in the Rig Veda. Objects made from these metals are generally found in households across the Indian subcontinent, and traditionally included in a bride’s dowry or trousseau. The production of Kansari metalware is largely concentrated in the districts of Ganjam, Puri, Cuttack and Dhenkanal, with isolated clusters in other districts of Odisha. 

Making brass and bell metal ware is a labour intensive, highly collaborative process. It requires close coordination among a number of artisans with different levels of specialised skill, each performing a specific role in the production process. The first step involves preparing the alloy itself, often by melting down metal scraps in a furnace, or bhatti. In a crucible (koi), copper is mixed in a precise proportion with zinc (to produce brass) or tin (to produce bell metal) to obtain the molten alloy. This is either cast by pouring into a mould, or allowed to cool in earthenware dishes as disc-shaped ingots, which are then forged into shape using a hammer or hatudi. In the next step, three or four artisans rhythmically hammer down the ingot on a stone surface while another turns it continually to ensure even thickness, as it is repeatedly heated on an open furnace to keep the metal malleable. The process continues until the desired size and approximate shape is obtained, with newer ingots layered in with the partially beaten one so that multiple bowls or plates can be produced simultaneously. The forged layers are then separated using tongs or pincers (sandasi) to be individually shaped and finished using hammers, scrapers (lihini) and files (ruha or ugha). A master craftsperson carries out the final shaping using a light hammer, followed by polishing and buffing while turning the product on a lathe (kunda), and sometimes embellishing it with decorative etching. 

Such a forging process renders these utensils virtually unbreakable, vulnerable only at the joints where components are welded together — however, such joints are kept to a minimum. Most brass and bell metal utensils comprise a single component with no ancillary parts such as handles. A layer of coal is often applied onto the outside of cooking utensils for greater heat conduction, while utensils for eating, drinking and other purposes are polished to a shine. Each master artisan typically specialises in making a particular product, and working specifically with either brass or bell metal; to an extent, each district is also known for a unique range of products. Within a village or craft cluster, however, Kansari artisans share communal resources such as workshops and furnaces.