Handmade in India

BRONZE CASTING
Production clusters
Chittoor district:
Chittoor
Tiruchanur
Dornakambala
Products
Idols of gods and
goddesses
Idols of folk deities
Tools
Hammers
Chisels
Files
CLUSTERS FOR BRONZE casting
in Andhra are located in the belt
between Tirupati and Chittoor:
Dornakambala,Tiruchanur and
Chittoor.Dornakambala is known
for its miniature idols which are
mass produced and sold at piligrim
centres.Tiruchanur and Chittoor
clusters are known for lost wax
casting in bronze.Details like
ornaments are only modelled in the
outline and are chiselled after the
metal is cast.The craftsmen are also
proficient in techniques that involve
repousse work on sheet metal.To
gain proficiency,the craftsman has
to undergo training in
drawing,knowledge of
iconography,learning shlokas
(verses)to know the
A kavacham,ritual attire that adorns
deities,for Lord Hanuman,made of
sheet metal,Chittoor.Craftsmen
from this region are as technically
equipped to cast idols,as they are to
design other products from sheet
metal.Craftsmen use brass sheets
and often recycle metal from scrap.
1. Idol of Hanuman cast in
tribhang pose,the body bent
at the knee,hip and neck.The
form is reminiscent of the
Chola bronzes.
2. Cast idol of Ganesha.The
prabhavali or arch depicts the
aureole and the
kirtimukha,lion-like face,in
the centre symbolizes the
deity`s glory and also wards
off evil.
bhava(expressions),working on the wax model to
gain confidence about the form and details.The
crafts is strictly governed by the conons of
iconography and iconometry.They are well versed
in many south Indian sculptural styles such as
Hoysala,Chola and Vijayanagara styles.Being a
traditional craft,the products are religious in
character.
TERRACOTTA
Production clusters
Chittoor district;
Palamner
Madanapalli
Products
Water Pots
Animal figurines-
Elephants,Horses
Tools
Sari-potter`s wheel
Sieve
Kiln
Stick
TERRACOTTA POTS ARE made
by the potters belonging to the
Kumbara community who have
migrated from Kannipatakkam
village.The clay is got from ponds
nearby and the products are made
traditionally with the wheel.There is
a distinct divide between the work
allotted to men and women.The men
traditionally throw on the wheel
while the women create the design on
the pots.In recent years,the
1. A Contemporary form in
terracotta developed by a
designer in collaboratin with
the potters of Guntavoor in
Chittoor.
2. Large elephant figures are
made by potters. Different part
are thrown on the wheel and
joined together and
decorated,and details added by
the hand-modelling process.
3. Unfired wheel-thrown pots and
planters left to dry before
being coated with diluted clay
slip and fired.
craftspersons have diversified into making sculptures.In case
of large sculptures like horses,the pieces are made
separately,either on the wheel or by the coiling method.Most
of the ornamentation is added on the surface by the women,and
design are incised around the neck of the pot.The traditional
shapes of the pots have been retained and by adding
embellishments on the surface are being transformed into
vases.