Arvind S polishing the Aranmula mirror at the Kerala Arts and Crafts Village in Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram | Photo credits: Sreejit R. Youth
Sunlight welcomes visitors to the spacious, aesthetically designed nine stalls of the beautifully designed Kerala Arts and Crafts Village (KACV) at Vellar, near Kovalam in Thiruvananthapuram. Dozens of dazzling mirrors, large and small, set in beautifully crafted brass frames in various sizes catch light and reflect it.
Inside the stall, three artisans, squatting on the floor, are busy polishing metal pieces in worked brass holders. Diligently, with a small piece of velvet soaked in a special solution, they polish the metal until it shines like a mirror. These are the craftsmen of the famous GI-tagged handmade Aranmula Kannada (Aranmula Mirror), made by only about 200 artisans who live in Aranmula, a quiet village on the banks of the Pampa in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala.
Aranmula is placed as part of the mirror Vishukkani, Arrangement of traditionally placed fruits, vegetables, golden laburnum, gold coin etc. uruli To wish Malayalam New Year. , Photo credits: Sreejit R. Youth
As the Vishu countdown begins, Aranmula artisans work round the clock to meet Aranmula’s demand Kannada, it is one of the essential things in Vishukkaniarrangement of agricultural produce, gold laburnum, gold coin and gold-edged cloth ( neriyathu) which is traditionally placed in a uruli (a wide-mouthed vessel made of brass or bel metal) in many Hindu homes in Kerala to greet the Malayalam New Year. There is a huge boom in the demand of Aranmula valakkanady to arrange (a mirror with a handle) Kani,
Artisans working on the Aranmula mirror at the Kerala Arts and Crafts Village, Kovalam in Thiruvananthapuram | Photo credits: Sreejit R. Youth
Master craftsman Arvind S showing mirrors of different sizes placed on a jute sack What is special about the mirror is said to be that it is an alloy of tin and copper, the proportions of which are a closely guarded secret among the traditional craftsmen of the mirror. Arvind dismisses reports that some secret ingredients like herbs and river mud are added to the alloy, which gives it a shine when polished.
An Aranmula mirror | Photo credits: Sreejit R. Youth
“We make alloys,” says Arvind. “Once it cools down, we store it to be used as and when required. To make metal pieces for mirrors, we re-melt the alloy into sheet shape and after cooling, we cut it into the shape and size we need. This is what is polished in mirrors. Even the women in our family are skilled in it, though the work of melting metals and shaping them into sheets is mostly done by men.”
Since these mirrors are not mercury-coated, as are most mass-produced mirrors in the market, both sides of the aranmula Kannada Can act as a mirror. “Since it is usually kept in a brass holder, we polish only one side. However, it can be polished on both sides. This mirror gives a true image, as the light is reflected directly from the metal surface itself, with no refraction taking place in the case of glass mirrors.
story of mirror 6
The largest Aranmula mirror, which is 44 cm in diameter, is in the collection of the British Museum. Arvind and team created a bespoke mirror measuring 55-centimetres in diameter. It was commissioned by designer Spandana Gopal of London-based Tiipoi. Art connoisseur Ashok Menon, who lives in Bangalore, put Spandana in touch with Aravind and also arranged for the mirror to be taken to London. “Named Mirror 6, as the five earlier casts were broken, it is housed in a specially designed, minimalistic wooden mount to highlight the process behind the creation of the mirror. The metal scaly- The jagged edges, which are usually smooth, have been left as is to show how the mirror was made,” says Ashok.
Like other master craftsmen in Aranmula, Aravind learned the craft from his father Sivankutty, helping him from the age of 15. A post-graduate in management, Arvind says he is proud to continue the craft of his forefathers. Over the years, Aranmula Kannada Has become a treasured artisan gift and has been given as a gift from India to many world leaders. “One, with a mirror that is almost two feet in size, believed to be the largest Aranmula Kannadi, is owned by designer Spandana Gopal in London. It cost ₹10 lakh and was custom-made for him.
Bespoke Aranmula mirror with a diameter of 55 cm, created by Arvind S and team for designer Spandana Gopal. It is named Mirror 6, as the earlier five casts were broken. It is housed in a specially designed, minimalistic wooden mount and features jagged edges. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Though the 2018 floods and pandemic in Kerala were a major blow to the artisans, they are slowly recovering from it. Dilip M, one of the artisans polishing the mirrors proudly says that the USP of Aranmula Kannada It is that the mirror, once polished and mounted, never loses its shine and can be used for years. “There is no mercury or chemicals that could tarnish its mirrors. They are heirlooms. Like all handmade products, no two mirrors are the same.”
To help the artisans, the central government has been organizing design workshops to adapt their work to the modern world. Manu TA, one of the artisans who helped Arvind, explains that the brass holders, which were earlier available in rectangular or circular shapes, are now available in conch, banyan leaf- and sun-shaped holders with engravings on the surface of the frame Or are made without. “Nowadays, not all customers like a lot of engraving or embellished work on holders. We try to have mirrors in a variety of sizes. Some people want us to have mirrors in wooden holders,” says Dilip.
aranmula kannadi | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The two-year-old KACV is one of the few places where Aranmula Kannadi makers can be seen at work. The price of these mirrors ranges from Rs 1,700 to Rs 10,000.
“It takes at least a week to make a mirror from scratch. We make about 50 a month. It is a matter of pride for us when the government gifts Aranmula Kannadi to state guests and international leaders,” says Aravind.