About kerala Traditional bell Metal work

Metal work is an ancient art of Kerala. The production of Temple bells and lamps have been in existence from very early times. Kerala is a home of bell-metals. Gleaming bell metal alloyed from a mixture of brass, tin and copper provide the raw substance for making tower-like lamps. Different types of cooking vessels, like the magnificent 'Varpu', tumblers for drinking etc are some of the other bell metal items. Trivandrum, Irinjalakuda and Kasargod are the main centers of bell-metal. The religious icons from Kerala has a wonderful directness, devotion and serenity associated with them like the unusual icon of the tandava dance, known as gaja tandava or gajasamhara, where Shiva is crushing the demon in an elephant form. The chief centres in Kerala for icons are Kannur(KUNHIMANGALAM&PAYYANUR AREA), Trivandrum, and Angadipuram in Palghat district. A special and famed product of Aramula, a village near Chengannur in Kerala is the metal mirror made out of an alloy of copper and tin and its polished face resembling glass because of its wonderful reflecting quality.

SKILLED ARTISANS OF KUNHIMANGALAM& THEIR WORKS(IDOLS>>>PHOTOS)

there are many people in vishwa karma caste named kammalas were working in these
field..the skill is handover to next generation in those family
the following photos are made by one of the famous family in kunhimangalam..named pdinjattayil kunhiraaman &his sons... these statues( idols) made for diffrernt famous temples in kerala

LAMPS.....NILA VILAKK PHOTOS

nila vilakk.... photos
& vessels from the hands of kunhimangalam& payyanur based artisans

LAMPS... NILA VILAKK,LAKSHMI VILAKK,NATARAJA VILAKK

Kerala is famous for its metal artisans. Bell metal, white metal, iron, brass, copper art flourishes in these luxuriant back waters. These forms of traditional of handicrafts dates back to a glorious past. Steeped in mythology, idols of deities like Shiva and Nataraj dominate the themes. An alloy of brass, tin and copper, glistening bell metals are also used to cast magnificent lamps in various shapes and sizes. Lamps are an integral part of the lives of the religious Keralites. the main one is ‘Nilavilakku’There are also other kinds of lamps like the Changalavatta or the Greek lamp, the Arati Dipa and the Archana lamp.
Now we returns to kannur ,, there are lot of artisans makes diffrent kinds of metal lamps for homes especiially designed for special lamps for temples &other religious activities
around kunhimangalam & payyanur.. famous bellmetal workers makes their famous traditional lamps called lakshmi vilakk

About kerala Traditional bell Metal work

Metal work is an ancient art of Kerala. The production of Temple bells and lamps have been in existence from very early times. Kerala is a home of bell-metals. Gleaming bell metal alloyed from a mixture of brass, tin and copper provide the raw substance for making tower-like lamps. Different types of cooking vessels, like the magnificent 'Varpu', tumblers for drinking etc are some of the other bell metal items. Trivandrum, Irinjalakuda and Kasargod are the main centers of bell-metal. The religious icons from Kerala has a wonderful directness, devotion and serenity associated with them like the unusual icon of the tandava dance, known as gaja tandava or gajasamhara, where Shiva is crushing the demon in an elephant form. The chief centres in Kerala for icons are Kannur(KUNHIMANGALAM&PAYYANUR AREA), Trivandrum, and Angadipuram in Palghat district. A special and famed product of Aramula, a village near Chengannur in Kerala is the metal mirror made out of an alloy of copper and tin and its polished face resembling glass because of its wonderful reflecting quality.