Four hammered brass storage dabba stacked in graduated sizes, each under a plain polished knobless lid - Peetal Parampara

Hand Hammered Brass Storage Dabba, Set of 4

Rs. 3,799.00

Rs. 3,799.00 Rs. 4,599.00

Hand Hammered Brass Storage Dabba, Set of 4

Name: Hand Hammered Brass Storage Dabba, Set of 4
Brand: PEETAL PARAMPARA
SKU: PP-BR-DIN-STO-014
Price: 3799.0 INR
Availability: InStock

A set of four hammered brass storage dabba in graduated sizes, none with a knob.

Rs. 3,799.00

Rs. 3,799.00 Rs. 4,599.00

Price includes GST.

Weight: 1,400g

Material: Brass, unlacquered
Finish: Hand hammered bodies, polished lids
Lining: Not lined, bare brass inside
Lid: Four plain polished lids, no knobs, each dropping over its body
Quantity: Four lidded boxes in graduated sizes

In the box

1 large brass box with lid
1 medium-large brass box with lid
1 medium-small brass box with lid
1 small brass box with lid

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.

Not one of the four lids carries a knob. Each is a plain polished disc with a turned band at its edge, and the lift comes from hooking a thumb under that band, which is also what lets the four stand one on top of the next with nothing to catch on. The hammering is on the bodies only, in broad flattened ovals that run in rows, and it stops dead where the polished band begins.

Technique

Hand Hammered

What is it?

A storage dabba is the lidded metal container an Indian kitchen keeps dry staples in, sugar and tea and dry fruit, sized so the lid drops over the body and the whole thing sits on a shelf without a gap.

Also known as a barni, martban, kitchen storage box, dry fruit box or peetal dabba.

What is in the box?

1 large brass box with lid
1 medium-large brass box with lid
1 medium-small brass box with lid
1 small brass box with lid

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. Four bodies and four lids come to 1,400 g between them, and the hammer facets are struck into the sheet rather than pressed into a skin that would flake at the rim.

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 and the depth of the polish shift a little from one box to the next and from one set to another.

Is it tin lined?

No. All four are bare brass inside. They are for dry storage - sugar, dry fruit, biscuits - and the lids sit close enough to keep that dry.

Can I keep curd, lemon or pickle in it?

No. These are dry stores. Curd or pickle left standing against bare brass will stain the inside wall and pick up a metallic edge from it inside a few hours.

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.

How many do I need?

One set covers the four staples a kitchen reaches for daily, which for most households is sugar, tea, dry fruit and a spare. A second set is for a pantry shelf rather than a counter.