Sheet Copper Work in Vessels from Uttarakhand

Sheet copper is cold-forged over swage blocks and stones under the blows of hammer and mallets. To soften a fatigued part, it is annealed over a small fire. Sheet copper is used to making many utilitarian wares for the community.  These include large bellied water pots, cylindrical water filers and shallow cooking vessels.

Large vessels are made in three pieces-the mouths, the body and the bottom are assembled together by brazing the joints with a filler of water, borax, and metal. the brazing is always done from inside. Drums have dovetailed joints while vessels have overlapping ones. once all the joints are sealed the artisan knocks on the walls to listen for the breaks in the brazing done. Over time the vessel can break from anywhere but the joints.