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.

The craft has a long history in the region, and knowledge of the brass and bell metal alloys can be traced to the third millennium BCE. According to Ayurveda, these alloys of copper are considered to have medicinal properties and are thus regarded as ideal for making food utensils. Bell metal, characterised by its sonorous quality, is mentioned in the Rig Veda as being particularly pure, and desirable for ritual and sacred use. While the craft is believed to have originated around the eleventh century under the reign of the Eastern Ganga dynasty in present-day Odisha, it received an impetus around the fifteenth century as the Gajapati empire was gaining hold over the region. The Gajapati kings of the Suryavanshi dynasty are said to have invited Kansari artisans to Kantilo, Odisha, from what is believed to have been their original home in Kannauj in present-day Uttar Pradesh. Originally commissioned to produce bells, gongs, cymbals and other sacred objects for the Nilamadhav Temple in Kantilo, the Kansaris gradually spread across the region of present-day Odisha, expanding their craft to include utilitarian and ritual objects for household use. Depending on the region, the community is variously referred to in the state as Kansari, Thattari, Khadura, Kharada, Kansa-karigar or Kansya-kara. 

Kitchenware made by the Kansari artisans includes trays and plates (thali and thalia), bowls (bela), water pots (lota and gara), cups and glasses (qina and gilasa) and ladles. Ceremonial items made for the home and temples include lamps (dibi and rukha), incense stands (dhupadani), seats for idols (khatuli) and small and big cymbals (ginni and tale). Despite the cultural prestige associated with them, the demand for these articles has been steadily declining with the mass production and easy availability of aluminium, steel and plastic goods. Coupled with a lack of appropriate marketing and obsolete production technologies, this has posed a threat to the craft’s sustainability. While many Kansari artisans have diversified into making decorative items, curios and jewellery, others have sought alternative employment. 

In 2022, Odisha’s state handicraft department applied for a Geographical Indication tag for the state’s brass and bell metal crafts in order to protect their market and authenticity. The application is currently under review.