Small cast brass vaastu tortoise, shell pierced into arches with seated figures under a stepped finial - Peetal Parampara

Brass Vaastu Tortoise with Temple Dome, 150 g

Rs. 1,999.00

Rs. 1,999.00 Rs. 2,799.00

Brass Vaastu Tortoise with Temple Dome, 150 g

Name: Brass Vaastu Tortoise with Temple Dome, 150 g
Brand: PEETAL PARAMPARA
SKU: PP-BR-VAS-TOR-178
Price: 1999.0 INR
Availability: InStock

A small cast brass tortoise with a pierced shell and a stepped temple spire.

Rs. 1,999.00

Rs. 1,999.00 Rs. 2,799.00

Price includes GST.

Weight: 150g

Material: Brass, unlacquered
Finish: Polished
Shell: Pierced arches with a seated figure in each, beaded band at the rim
Base: Four legs, so the belly sits clear of the surface
Use: Kept indoors as a vaastu piece, often on a plate or in a shallow bowl of water
In the box: 1 brass tortoise

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.

At 150 g the whole tortoise closes inside a hand, and the piercing is worked at that scale, the arches narrow enough that the seated figures inside them read as silhouettes before they read as faces. The stepped top stands well clear of the dome. A beaded band runs round the rim, the head is cast with irregular scale plates, and four legs hold the belly a little above whatever it stands on.

What is it?

In vaastu practice a tortoise, or kachua, is kept indoors as a household emblem, often set on a plate or in a shallow bowl of water near the entrance. We describe the practice; we make no claim about outcomes.

Also known as a kachua, vastu kachua, small tortoise statue or pital kachua.

What is in the box?

1 brass tortoise

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.

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 the brass solid or plated?

Solid, cast in one and finished by hand. At this size 150 g is a dense little object, and a kitchen scale is the test we would rather you ran than take the claim on trust.

Will it look exactly like the photograph?

Not exactly. The openings in the shell are cleared by hand, so at this scale small changes in how far each arch is opened are easy to see between one piece and another.

Where should it be placed?

In vaastu convention a tortoise is kept near the entrance or in the north of a room, often on a plate or in a shallow bowl of water. Households differ on this and we would not tell you your practice.

Is it solid or hollow?

The body, head and legs are solid; the shell is cut through in arches, so it is open rather than hollow. There is no filler and no weight inside, only the 150 g of brass.

Is it too small for a shelf?

It is a palm-sized piece, so it reads best on a mandir shelf, a desk or a small plate rather than across a room. On an open console it tends to disappear behind whatever stands next to it.