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Nexware.
Luxury handicrafts · 07

Temple Bronze
& Brassware

Thanjavur icons, Kerala bronze lamps, the Aranmula metal mirror and Moradabad brassware — the decorative metal lines that carry the most weight, literally and commercially.

Start a brief for this line The handicrafts wing
An artisan finishing a cast bronze statue in a workshop in Kumbakonam, India
What we buy

What we buy in this line

  • Thanjavur metal iconsLost-wax cast bronze figures in the Chola idiom.
  • Kerala bronze lampsStanding, hanging and multi-tier oil lamps.
  • Aranmula KannadiThe speculum-metal mirror, made by one protected community.
  • Moradabad brasswareSpun, cast and sheet brass at production volumes.
  • Architectural metalDoor furniture, panels, handles and fittings.
  • Tableware and objectsTrays, urlis, planters, bowls and serveware.
Acceptance criteria

What we fix before the first pour

Hand-made goods are bought against an approved sample, not a drawing. That only works if what the sample is being judged on is written down before anyone starts.

AlloyNamed alloy — panchaloha, bell metal, brass or bronze, each behaving differently.
Casting methodLost wax, sand cast or spun, stated per component.
WeightFinished weight with a tolerance; weight is both cost and freight.
FinishPolished, antiqued, patinated or lacquered, matched to a physical sample.
Base and assemblyBases, fixings and how multi-part pieces are joined.
Iconographic accuracyWhere a form is traditional, the proportions the sample must hold.
PackingCrate design and the drop the packing is expected to survive.

Every criterion above appears in the inspection report as a pass or a fail, with the measurement beside it. Where a criterion is a judgement rather than a number, the judgement is recorded against a retained physical sample.

Risk & compliance

What we screen before a sample is quoted

Lead in alloy

Decorative brass frequently carries lead. Anything food-contact or intended for children is tested, not asserted.

Foundry safety

Molten metal handled with minimal protection is common in small units and is an audit finding.

Weight and landed cost

Under-stated piece weight quietly destroys the landed cost. Weights are verified rather than taken from the quotation.

Aranmula authenticity

Aranmula Kannadi is GI-protected and made by very few families. Nickel-plated glass imitations are widespread.

Where this is made

Clusters we work for this line

SwamimalaiKumbakonamAranmulaMoradabadNachiarkoil

These are temple-metal towns with centuries of continuity and very small output. Moradabad is the only one of them that behaves like a production cluster.

Related lines

The other hand-made skills

Pashmina & Fine ShawlsHand-made Banarasi & Silk BrocadeHand-made Patola, Muga & HandloomHand-made Kalamkari & Hand-Printed TextilesHand-made Chikankari & ZardoziHand-made Bidriware & DhokraHand-made Meenakari, Thewa & KundanHand-made Jaipur Blue PotteryHand-made Pichwai, Tanjore & MiniatureHand-made Papier-Mâché, Lacquer & WoodHand-made Kashmiri Carpets & RugsHand-made

Send us the sample. We will tell you honestly.

Whether we can source it well in India, what it should cost, and what could go wrong — before you commit to anything.

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