The Barpali Days

This blog is the Facebook of Barpali which picturise its "life" and "culture". It was a "palli" or a village a century back where the all time great Oriya poet swabhaba kabi Gangadhar Meher had taken birth. Now this bustling little town is renowned world-over for the weaving of Sambalpuri ikat handloom fabrics. Agriculture is its prime economy. And when you happen to visit this little town don't miss to taste Chaul bara.

Breaking

Apr 6, 2012

Unlabelled Ainthu Sahu – Conserving the Metal crafts of Western Odisha

Ainthu Sahu – Conserving the Metal crafts of Western Odisha

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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. 

 [Gaja Saraswati - an ornament box]

This elephant though looks to be a display artefact for your living room, but in reality it’s a ornament box. It is made of brass metal. It measures 13.5” inches in height and weighs  2.6 kgs. It was likely to be 40 years old and was made at Jampali of Sonepur District of Odisha. It carry one box mounted on top of the elephant and the other secret chamber inside the stomach of it to keep the ornaments. At the top of the box you would find goddess Saraswati sitting and playing her musical instrument bina.
 [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] 


WhatsApp# +918249314972
C\o. Dr.E.R.Rao (M.D),
Tehsil Chowk,
At\PO – BARPALI – 768 029,
Dist. Bargarh, Orissa, India.
Cell # 91 99 371 20565 
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12 comments:

  1. craftsnuApril 7, 2012 at 11:44 AM

    very informative article.these metal crafts are really masterpieces of art.every attempt must be made to conserve this art.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Surendra HotaApril 7, 2012 at 8:07 PM

    Thanks for this posting

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anil Kumar MahapatraApril 8, 2012 at 5:24 PM

    Wonderful article. Thanks for sharing such articles. Hope to see more articles in coming days

    ReplyDelete
  4. Chicago CharlieApril 12, 2012 at 1:49 AM

    According to Paulo Freire the first person to protect a culture must come that culture itself. Mr. Sahu is the prime example of how culture is both celebrated and protected through understanding and compassion. I was once privileged to lunch with him and call him friend, now that I live thousands of miles away I hold that honor even closer.

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  5. SameerApril 12, 2012 at 11:28 AM

    I have never seen such a beautiful art which can be done in metal, Thanks to Mr. Sahu and Kiran Dada for bringing it to our notice.

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  6. Director - Wallsys Info Pvt. LtdApril 12, 2012 at 12:55 PM

    It is an inspiration for all of us. Thanks to the dedicators to bring such things publically.

    ReplyDelete
  7. SubhransuApril 12, 2012 at 1:46 PM

    The Post Is Really Impressive And Very Informative.
    All My Best Wishes To You.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Akash GoelApril 13, 2012 at 2:54 PM

    Really i am very happy that to see such articles and hope to see more.Thanks to Mr.Ainthu Sahu who preserve these precious articles.

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  9. prakash tripathyMay 21, 2012 at 2:27 PM

    dada this photograph r best photograph among all photograph.thnk u to aithu kaka & u for inovative to publise in market,great collection,great idea.

    ReplyDelete
  10. UnknownNovember 12, 2013 at 10:43 AM

    Thanks to Mr. E. KIRAN MOHAN, , for posting such article...

    ReplyDelete
  11. UnknownJune 1, 2018 at 9:30 PM

    Such a lovely article i have ever read.Mr.E.Kiran Mohan,Thank you so much for this post

    ReplyDelete
  12. UnknownOctober 31, 2019 at 7:28 PM

    Thanks Mr. E.Kiran Mohan for this creation of this facebook blog & highliting the efforts of Mr.Ainthu Sahu,a renowned businessman & conservator of brass & belmetal utensils. The people of Barpali is proud of Mr. Sahu , a worthy son of its soil.

    ReplyDelete

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