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.
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| [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.
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[sharp nails to be wore while doing the bagh-nach \ the tiger dance]
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[a brass metal mural showing a tribe dwelling in the jungle
along with a dog while carrying a bunch of wood and an axe] |
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| [Bandria a set of bangles in white metal] |
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| [a dokra brass metal crocodile] |
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| [Poinree that is put on legs] |
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| [Katria a set of bangles in white metal] |
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| [Macha a metal money purse] |
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| [a brass metal money purse] |
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[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
very informative article.these metal crafts are really masterpieces of art.every attempt must be made to conserve this art.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this posting
ReplyDeleteWonderful article. Thanks for sharing such articles. Hope to see more articles in coming days
ReplyDeleteAccording 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteIt is an inspiration for all of us. Thanks to the dedicators to bring such things publically.
ReplyDeleteThe Post Is Really Impressive And Very Informative.
ReplyDeleteAll My Best Wishes To You.
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.
ReplyDeletedada this photograph r best photograph among all photograph.thnk u to aithu kaka & u for inovative to publise in market,great collection,great idea.
ReplyDeleteThanks to Mr. E. KIRAN MOHAN, , for posting such article...
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely article i have ever read.Mr.E.Kiran Mohan,Thank you so much for this post
ReplyDeleteThanks 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