8:34 AM
Ainthu Sahu – Conserving the Metal crafts of Western Odisha
In the metropolitan cities the art connoisseurs flux to the exhibition grounds to pick the contemporary craft works. But you never know, the ethnic Indian crafts might be hidden somewhere there in your kitchen cabinet handed over to you by the ancestors.
Meet Shri Ainthu Sahu of Barpali, the head of a kansari family whose vocation is to trade on the kitchen utensils. For generations altogether the family of Mr.Sahu have carried the business of selling of both brass and the bell metal cutleries. Over the past four decades while carrying his business he had conserved many ancient brass and bell-metal craft works of Odisha and the adjoining state of Chattisgarh. He express his anguish that today here left not a single artisan alive who could recreate even a replica of the pieces he possess. Mr.Ainthu wish to convert his collectibles into a museum soon some day. Each of his collections carry the rich untold cultural history of India. Sadly this has not been documented till date by anyone.
Many a times while the people of adjoining villages digging a pond, irrigation canal or the foundation for a house construction they unearth ancient brass and the copper utensils. Those people bring the antique things for selling it to Ainthu Sahu in exchange for the new cutleries. Ainthu keeps them instead of sending it to the smelter to remake a new utensil.
[sharp nails to be wore while doing the bagh-nach \ the tiger dance]
|
[a brass metal mural showing a tribe dwelling in the jungle
along with a dog while carrying a bunch of wood and an axe] |
[Bandria a set of bangles in white metal] |
[a dokra brass metal crocodile] |
[Poinree that is put on legs] |
[Katria a set of bangles in white metal] |
[Macha a metal money purse] |
[a brass metal money purse] |
[a brass metal jewellery box] |
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