The rendezvous of humans with metals was first recorded in the Chalcolithic or Copper Age (4500–3500 BCE). Since then, metals have been indispensable to the evolution of human civilizations. The evidence of advanced metallurgical skills in India can be traced through various metal sculptures unearthed from the ruins of the Indus Valley Civilization (3300–1300 BCE). Over the centuries, India has developed diverse metal-based craft traditions unique to particular regions. From Mohras in Himachal Pradesh to Silver filigree in Telangana and Brassware in Maharashtra to the Bell Metal Craft in Odisha, each state stands as a testament to its unique cultural history.
However, today these traditional handmade crafts face fierce competition from machine-made products that are often superior in quality and more affordable. As the world is driven by digital precision and automated manufacturing, the inherent uniqueness offered by traditional crafts is struggling for survival. Ground issues like demand and supply, price ranges, and a narrow audience appreciating the techniques often overshadow the growth of the handicrafts industry. Therefore, exploring opportunities to ensure both the survival of these crafts and the livelihood of traditional artisans is essential.
It has become pertinent to ask difficult questions and find viable solutions to preserve our cultural knowledge for future generations. One such solution lies in effective collaborations between local artisans and contemporary designers. These partnerships can help reinvent traditional crafts, repurposing them for modern needs. We find evidence of such successful collaborations particularly in the textile industry where they have cultivated a cross-pollination of ideas, enabling an intersection of traditional craftsmanship with contemporary trends. These collaborations allow craftspeople to preserve their craft while offering customers timeless products that stand out against mass-produced items.
In the consumer market, brands like FabIndia, Nicobar, and Jaypore are merging traditional and modern design in home decor, promoting cross-cultural exchange and bringing Indian crafts to new audiences. While these collaborations are quite common in the apparel and jewelry industries, they remain limited in scope, often targeting affluent consumers and neglecting lesser-known crafts such as sabai grass weaving or kansa work. The majority of the traditional artists remain underrecognized and exploited; both financially and psychologically.
This article examines the bell metal craft industry of Odisha that dates back to the 5th century BCE and tries to highlight the need for effective collaborations between local artisans and contemporary designers as a potential solution to preserve our crafts heritage.
Artwork by OCO Resident Disharee Mathur
Sustaining Heritage: Challenges and Opportunities In Bell Metal Craft Industry
The Social Fabric of the Artisan Community- Post and Pre Independence
The traditional brass and bell metal industries in India have been shaped by a complex interplay of social, economic, and technological factors. Historically, caste-based councils and state-level organizations like the SaheThana Mahasabha and Nikhilotkala Kansari Samaj have overseen the welfare and economic advancement of craftsmen. Before independence, the focus was on maintaining ritual purity and craft fidelity as pathways to social mobility. There were well trained communities who were the sole custodians of the craft. There were fewer examples of people outside the community being allowed to practice an age-old craft. However, the post-independence period emphasized broader economic development, education, and political empowerment, allowing the craft to evolve in eclectic directions.
The Kansari community upholds a strong sense of camaraderie and resource sharing. Within each village, artisans often specialize in specific items—such as bowls, plates, or other utensils—experimenting with various shapes, textures, and finishes. Their work is intense. It starts before dawn to avoid the heat generated during metalworking. To cool the metal and their tools, they often live near water sources. Despite the impact of modernization, these artisans have retained the traditional prestige of their craft, maintaining strong community ties. While the lower and middle segments of the community pursue economic opportunities, the upper echelons focus on enhancing the caste’s collective status and preserving their traditional roles.
If we can produce a more nuanced understanding of the life circumstances of the artisans today, we will be able to develop effective strategies to uplift both; the craft and its practitioners.
Contemporary Challenges in the Industry
India’s brass and bell metal industry is grappling with significant challenges due to globalization and economic liberalization. Traditional techniques face stiff competition from modern manufacturing methods, and artisans often struggle financially with limited access to credit and formal financial management. Many artisans work on a commission basis, lacking control over raw materials and market access.
The industry is hindered by problems like lack of infrastructure, technical training, research and development facilities, and low quality testing labs. Competition from mass-produced goods has further exacerbated the challenges; raising raw material costs and threatening the survival of traditional craftsmanship. Despite the existence of various government support schemes, many artisans remain unaware of these opportunities. This obstructs their ability to benefit from available assistance. As a result, many are forced to seek alternative employment, leading to a decline in traditional skills and the overall industry.
The artisans share a light moment together during the course of work.
Issues of Marketing and Aids
Local markets and exhibitions, such as those at the district and state levels, including Adivasi Mela and Ekamra Haat in Bhubaneswar, are key marketing avenues. However, challenges such as competition from steel and aluminum products, inadequate funding for raw materials, and insufficient government support slows down progress. Additionally, the lack of proper market access and training for younger generations aggravates the problem.
Demands by the Artisans
The artisans for a long time have been demanding -
Enhanced government support for raw material procurement and market access.
Establishment of work sheds at the village level to accommodate more artisans.
Provision of artisan cards, health insurance, and pensions.
Training programs focused on design development and market promotion.
Opportunities in the Industry
There is significant Substantiate for growth in the brass and bell metal sectors. Despite challenges like the rise of cheaper alternatives and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on production and sales, Kansa craft continues to thrive in various districts of Odisha, such as District Khurda. This district is a notable hub for brass and bell-metal utensils and ornaments, with cooperative societies supporting numerous families that are involved in this craft. Skilled artisans and the community's interest provide a strong foundation for expansion. If these crafts were modernized to produce items that address contemporary design needs while still honoring traditional techniques, they could provide practical solutions to everyday challenges. Diversifying product quality, variety, and supply could create new income opportunities for rural artisans. As the market evolves, it demands innovative approaches that maintain traditional techniques, and collaborations between contemporary designers and traditional artisans present a promising path forward. However, meaningful collaborations that integrate local artisans remain rare, with limited documentation of such engagements.
MGM Foundation x BEADS : Odisha Craft Odyssey
Odisha Craft Odyssey, a collaboration between MGM Foundation and BEADS, is an initiative to create a platform that merges tradition with innovation. The aim is to redefine the role of traditional crafts in contemporary art and cultural expression. By reimagining traditional techniques in a modern context, we hope to infuse new life into the cherished Kansa craft. Their curatorial residency program serves as a revolutionary endeavor in this direction.
Collaboration with Artisans
The program aims to blur the conventional boundaries between high art and craft, viewing them as interconnected rather than distinct fields. It fosters a respectful, symbiotic relationship between traditional and contemporary artists, promoting reciprocal learning and ensuring ethical engagement. This includes a commitment to transparent and open communication about project goals, impacts, and benefits, as well as fair compensation to the artisans. A key focus is amplifying artisan voices by making them integral to the project's outcomes and encouraging direct interaction with audiences. The initiative embraces a pluralistic approach to dissolve traditional hierarchies between art and craft through an inclusive understanding of artistic practices.
The residency is managed in two phases: the first involves immersion and documentation of techniques and cultural significance, while the second phase showcases the collaborative works and findings. Through an analytical framework, the initiative invites artists, designers, and researchers to engage with traditional crafts, using an interdisciplinary approach to address misrepresentations of the art-craft divide and develop new methods and ethical practices for future research and initiatives.
The long-standing divide between fine arts and crafts has influenced art education, exhibition practices, and artistic creation, often positioning crafts as inferior. This hierarchy, rooted in colonial art education, marginalized the craft practices. Even as nationalist movements attempted to revive traditional arts, crafts were often relegated to a lower status; a marginalization that continued through post-colonial policies in India, and remains evident today. Although contemporary artists gradually incorporate craft techniques, the cultural value of these practices is still often overlooked.
Initiatives like the Odisha Craft Odyssey residency programme challenge the prevailing hierarchical distinctions in the industry by redefining the interaction between traditional crafts and contemporary art; developing an integrated approach that both respects and elevates the craft practices within academic and exhibition contexts. Through its innovative efforts to revitalize the craftsmanship and heritage of Odisha’s bell metal artisans, the program promotes cultural inclusion, and supports the sustainability of craft communities through innovative artistic practices. Such collaborations could prove to be a lifeline for the crafts industry if expanded into other craft sectors. Catering to the demands of a more diverse consumer group would encourage innovation and help find sustainable steps to preserve our crafts heritage for future generations.
By honoring traditional skills while embracing new artistic possibilities, projects like OCO can make a meaningful impact on the perception and future of craft traditions.
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