Hammered brass masala dabba, seven shallow inner bowls, a brass spoon and a flat polished lid - Peetal Parampara

Hand Hammered Brass Masala Dabba with Flat Lid

Rs. 5,099.00

Hand Hammered Brass Masala Dabba with Flat Lid

Name: Hand Hammered Brass Masala Dabba with Flat Lid
Brand: PEETAL PARAMPARA
SKU: PP-BR-DIN-MSL-003
Price: 5099.0 INR
Availability: InStock

A hammered brass masala dabba with seven loose bowls, a flat spoon and a plain lid.

Rs. 5,099.00

Price includes GST.

Weight: 1,400g

Material: Brass, unlacquered
Finish: Hand hammered body, mirror polished lid
Lining: Not lined, bare brass inside
Bowls: Seven loose inner bowls, shallow and round bottomed
Spoon: One flat brass spoon

In the box

1 brass masala dabba with lid
7 loose inner bowls
1 flat brass spoon

Check delivery to your PIN code

Estimated, not a guarantee. Dispatched from Guwahati, Monday to Saturday.

Each piece is shaped and finished by hand, so small differences in weight, size, finish and surface marking are normal and no two are identical. Colour on screen can differ from the metal in daylight. Handmade in India.

The lid carries no knob at all. It is a mirror-polished disc with a shallow raised circle turned into the centre and a stepped edge, and you lift it by hooking a thumb under that step. Inside, seven shallow bowls sit loose in the base with their rims almost touching, so they come out one at a time to be filled. The flat brass spoon is wide enough to level a teaspoon of haldi without spilling it into the next bowl.

Technique

Hand Hammered

What is it?

A masala dabba is the round spice tin that lives beside the stove, holding the day's masalas in loose inner bowls under one lid so a cook reaches for a single container instead of seven jars.

Also known as a masaladani, spice box, masala box, peetal dabba or spice container.

What is in the box?

1 brass masala dabba with lid
7 loose inner bowls
1 flat brass spoon

How do I look after it?

Wash by hand with a mild dishwashing liquid and a soft sponge. Dry fully with a cloth before putting it away — water left standing is what causes spotting.
Brass darkens. It reacts with air and with the oils on your hands, and a piece in daily use will dull within weeks. That is the metal telling you it is not plated.
To bring the shine back: a paste of lemon juice and salt, or tamarind pulp, or a proprietary brass cleaner. Rub, rinse, dry. Two minutes.
Do not use steel wool, scouring pads or bleach.
Not dishwasher safe. Not microwave safe.
If you would rather it stayed dark, leave it alone — a settled patina protects the surface.

How was it made?

Hand Hammered

Handmade in India

Every piece finished by hand

Solid metal

No plating, nothing to chip

Weighed and listed

In grams, on almost every page

Tin lining stated

Where a vessel is lined, we say so

Questions about this piece

Is this brass solid or plated?

Solid. The base, the seven bowls and the lid are all brass sheet, and 1,400 g across that many parts is what tells you nothing here is a thin plated shell.

Will it look exactly like the photograph?

No two come out the same. The hammering is struck by hand, so the pattern of the marks, the width of the plain bands and the depth of the polish all shift a little from one to the next.

Is it tin lined?

No. The base and all seven bowls are bare brass, which is how a masala dabba is normally made. Haldi, jeera and rai sit against brass without reacting. Damp is the problem, not the spice.

Can I keep curd, lemon or pickle in it?

No. Keep it to dry masalas. Anything wet or sour will sit against bare brass, take on a metallic edge and leave a stain in the bowl that scrubbing will not lift.

Can I put it in the dishwasher?

Hand wash only. Dishwasher salts strip the shine off brass and leave it grey and blotchy. Warm water, a soft sponge, then dry it with a cloth before it goes back on the shelf.

Do the inner bowls come out?

All seven lift straight out. They sit loose in the base rather than being fixed to it, so the box washes in parts and a bowl can be swapped between haldi and jeera without emptying the rest of them.