Kutch Bell - The making
The unique melodic tones from the metal bells burnished in copper and brass have long adorned the cattle that graze the plains of Kutch, The bells signifiy each animal’s position and status on the here.
Iron, copper, brass flakes/powder, cotton,local clay and wood are used to create these beautiful pieces of art.
The body of the bell is made by shaping rectangular strips of waste iron plates into a cylindrical hollow. The cylindrical body is topped with a semi-circular shape. A clasp loop at the top is attached.
Each bell is hand-made and involves hundreds of deft movements of the hand.
The uncoated iron bell thus made is first dipped in a solution of mud and water after which a mix of powdered brass-copper is applied on the bell coupled with borax. These tasks are usually done by the women members of the family
These powders stick to the bell which has been wet with the mud and water solution A mould of clay is prepared added with bits of cotton and stretched to make a little paste.
The bell with brass copper powder clinging to it is wrapped in the thick mud paste thus made with the cotton pancake and baked for 15-20 minutes in a kiln of coal. After removing from the kiln , it is dipped in cold water and then the cotton-clay wrapping is peeled
The simple iron bell becomes glowing copper-brass coated bell. Finally, a shaped piece of wood , usually of Kerad or Babul wood – both dense and hard is hung in the cylindrical part of the bell structure converting the bell hollow into a musical piece.
The special sounds emanating from the bell are actually set by the bell maker with the help of an instrument called Ekalavai and hammer. The bell maker has to have high degree of skills to set the sweet tones for each bell. They work on the rims of the bell to create sounds distinctive to the bell and the artisan.
The artisan: Luhar Haji Siddik is from village Narona, Taluk Nakhtrana , District Kutch. He has practiced this craft for over 25 years and now his son luhar Alibhai H has joined the traditional craft