the bellmakers of Kutch
The beautiful patina of Kutchi bells come from recycled copper filings that has melted during the firing process.
We first discovered the handmade bells of Kutch during a visit to Gujarat in 2018. We were immediately drawn to their beautiful sound, the remarkable range of sizes—from tiny jingle bells to deep, resonant gongs, and the rustic finish created by copper and fire. In 2024, we returned with the intention of building a meaningful collaboration, which has since blossomed into a rich collection of individual bells, chimes, and handcrafted sound objects created in partnership with the Lohar family, each resonating with story, place, and tradition.
The Luhars belong to a long lineage of traditional metalworkers whose very name reflects their craft. “Luhar,” derived from the Sanskrit loha (iron) and -kar (maker), literally means ironworker or smith; a skill passed down through generations.
Razak S Luhar demonstrates how the bells are made with hammer, cutters and recycled iron sheeting.
Historically, these bells were made for livestock, and they are still used this way today. At the same time, designs have evolved into wind chimes, ornaments, instruments and sculptural sound objects, while the methods, care, and spirit of the craft remain unchanged.
Razak fits the cap fits onto the body of the bell.
Kutchi bells are made using waste and upcycled metals, following a zero-waste tradition. Each bell begins as a flat sheet of iron, carefully cut and shaped by hand using metal shears and hammers. Once formed, the bell is rolled in mud, coated with a mixture of sand, borax, and copper filings, and then wrapped in clay. It is fired for 12–15 minutes, after which the clay, glowing red from the fire and cooling to black, is hammered away to reveal the gleaming copper patina beneath. A wooden clapper is fitted inside, and each bell is tuned by hand by thinning the edge with a hammer. No two bells are alike.
Rosanben, Razak's wife rolls each bell in mud, then a mix of borax and recycled copper filings, then covered with clay before firing in the kiln.
The kiln. Each bell is fired for 12 - 15 minutes.
Every bell we share carries the mark of the hammer, the fire, and the hands that made it. They are objects of sound and presence—echoes of pastoral life, lineage, and craft, now also the joyful outcome of collaboration and shared creativity between our team and the Lohar family. Our bells are loved by gardeners, musicians, actors, and practitioners of yoga, meditation, and sound therapy; used as holiday decorations and meaningful gifts; and have even found their way back to their original purpose, ringing from herds of goats and sheep in our own region here in Germany.
We'll be adding bells to our online shop soon - you can currently find them in our store in Tübingen. Botho Beim Nonnenhaus 7 72070 Tübingen.
