Hand Engraved Kansa Thali Set, 6 Piece

Name: Hand Engraved Kansa Thali Set, 6 Piece
Brand: PEETAL PARAMPARA
SKU: PP-KA-KAN-THL-194
Price: 8499.0 INR
Availability: InStock

A hand engraved kansa thali set of six, with the floral band carried onto the spoon.

Rs. 8,499.00

Rs. 8,499.00 Rs. 9,899.00

Price includes GST.

Weight: 1,500g

Material: Kansa (bronze), unlacquered
Finish: Brushed satin with a hand engraved band
Motif: Flowers and leaves in cut line, carried onto the spoon handle
Thali: Rolled rim carrying the band on its outer face, plain floor
Quantity: 6 pieces, one place setting

In the box

1 kansa thali
2 kansa katoris
1 kansa shallow bowl
1 kansa glass
1 kansa 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 band of flowers runs low on both katoris, covers most of the glass, and then runs up the spoon handle as well, cut in the same fine line. On the thali it sits on the outer face of a rim that rolls over and up, so the pattern curves with the metal rather than standing on a flat wall. The floor of the plate is left plain, which is what it has to be if a spoon is going to work across it. The cut is shallow enough that a fingertip reads it as texture rather than as ridges.

Technique

Hand Engraved

What is it?

A thali set is the round plate with the katoris, glass and spoon that make up one person's place setting at a meal. Kansa is bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, long used in Indian homes for eating vessels.

Also known as a bronze dinner set, kansa thali set, kansya bhojan set or engraved bell metal thali.

What is in the box?

1 kansa thali
2 kansa katoris
1 kansa shallow bowl
1 kansa glass
1 kansa spoon

How do I look after it?

Kansa is an alloy of copper and tin, known in English as bell metal or bronze. It is dense, hard, and heavier in the hand than steel of the same size.
Wash by hand with a mild dishwashing liquid and a soft sponge straight after eating. Dry fully.
Kansa darkens with use and reacts to sour food faster than brass does. Serve lemon, curd, tamarind and pickle fresh rather than leaving them standing in the vessel.
To restore the shine: tamarind pulp, or lemon and salt. Rinse thoroughly and dry.
Do not use steel wool, harsh detergent or bleach.
Not dishwasher safe. Not microwave safe.
Kansa is hard but it is not forgiving — a fall onto stone can dent or crack the rim. Store it where it will not knock against other metal.

How was it made?

Hand Engraved

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 kansa solid or plated?

Solid. The six pieces weigh 1,500 g together, and the engraved line runs into the metal itself rather than sitting on a coating, which a plated piece could not carry without flaking.

Will it look exactly like the photograph?

No. Every band is cut by hand, so the spacing of the flowers, the depth of the groove and the point at which the pattern closes differ on each set that is made.

Is kansa the same as brass?

No. Kansa is bronze, copper alloyed with tin, and brass is copper alloyed with zinc. Kansa is harder and denser, which is why the engraved line in it holds a sharp edge.

Will it discolour with sour food?

Yes, in patches, and the grooves of the band darken before the plain metal does. Rinse and dry after the meal, and run a soft brush along the engraving once in a while.

How many do I need?

One per person eating. Six pieces make a single place setting rather than a service for the table, so a household of four orders four and buys serving bowls on top of that.

Will the engraving trap food?

Only lightly. The cut is shallow and a rinse under a running tap clears most of it. Dried masala in the line comes out with a soft toothbrush and warm water.

Can I put it in the dishwasher?

Hand wash only. Dishwasher salt dulls kansa and settles white in the engraved grooves, where it is hard to get out. Warm water, a soft sponge, then dry the pieces properly.