Brass (peetal), bronze (kansa) and copper (tamba) have ruled Indian kitchens, humble and affluent alike, for some centuries now. These metals are antibacterial and good conductors of heat, making them ideal for storage, cooking and dining. Each object is a sculptural piece in its own right; wholly handcrafted from metal sheets that are beaten, dovetailed and soldered into imaginative shapes.

In 1590 AD, in Ain-i-Akbari, Abu’l Fazl records the process of kalai wherein brass utensils are periodically lined with tin to make them non-reactive. It has been understood that brass needs such refurbishment every few months otherwise the metal reacts with food, making it bitter.

As the years roll on, this metal’s pre-dominance will gain strength - where, with great pride, family names will be etched onto wares and kitchen essentials will also be gifted upon marriage.

In the modern industrial era, copper and its derivatives will lose their pre-eminence to stainless steel. And it will be many decades before designers like Spandana Gopal brands like Good Earth will to return to ancient India‘s metallurgical prowess and revive kansa as a nutritive yet urbane material.

Brass Thali and Katoris
Designer: Unknown
Year: Unknown

Kansa Collection Designer: Good Earth Year: 2006 Good Earth’s Kansa Collection is a contemporary take on traditional craft and culture. To revive the artisanal community, Kansa dinnerware and serveware is entirely handmade. It advocates ancient Ayurvedic wisdom, which suggests that eating from kansa utensils alkalizes the body’s pH to enjoy greater vitality. The collection has been designed such that leftovers can remain in the serving bowls, furthering the alkaline benefits. Information Courtesy: Good Earth

Watr Carafe Designer: Rayden Design Studio Year: 2016 Rayden’s Watr range harks back to the traditional Indian practice of employing antibacterial copper to purify water. The exterior juxtaposes hammered texture with a smooth finish, lending the piece simple elegance and the airtight lid makes the Carafe multi-purpose – allowing for it to be used as a serving and storage utensil.