In Gujarat the craftsmen who make and deal in metal utensils of copper, brass, bronze are known as Kansara. The word is derived from the Gujarati kansu, meaning bronze which in turn is a derivation from the Sanskrit word kansya meaning bronze. Before brass /pittal, an alloy of copper and zinc, became popular, the use of bronze utensils was widespread, and therefore the term kansara which originally meant bronze worker became the general term for all utensil makers.