Thathera - Jaipur
The process of making utensils using Thathera technique is easy yet time consuming. The process includes following steps:
1. Cutting of sheet
2. Shaping the product
3. Joining of piece
4. Finishing
1. Cutting of sheet:
The sheet (brass, copper or iron), brought from the market is first straightened. After this with the help of scale, marker and compass markings are done on the metal sheet for the product to be made. In the next stage the sheet is cut either by chisel (if thick) or by metal scissor (if thin). The shape can be square or circular depending on the final product to be made. The thickness of the metal depends on the final product.
2. Shaping the product:
Once the sheet is cut it is placed on Bangad and hammering is done with wooden mallet or hammers. Traditionally Thiya is also used to shape the product or to make the neck of the vessels. While shaping the metal the sheet is rotate continuously for even treatment of the shape or the metal body. Vessels like pots or kalash are made in two or more parts and then joined together by welding.
3. Joining of piece:
The products are made in parts and finally joined either by heating or by gas welding. Sometimes artisans also join two pieces with traditional interlocking of the metals. These joints were converted into a design element by further heating and beating them. This process was carried by heating the metal pieces in Bhatti at high temperature. This made the metal more flexible and thus merged/blended into each other. Today artisans use gas welding as it is less time consuming and easy. For this process both the pieces are heated till they becomes red hot. On the surface suhaga is applied and a thin brass rod is melted which joins the two pieces. The gaps are filled by melting the brass rod on the product, thus helping in joining the two pieces.
4. Finishing:
Once the product is joined the excess metal accumulated on the surface due to welding is removed by grinding machine or files. Then these items go through acid wash to clean the surface. The product is then buffed using buffs of different grades/numbers.
